3 miners killed, 7 hurt in Bukidnon mines attack

Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked a mining site in Bukidnon province, killing three miners and seriously wounding seven others, even as authorities continue to look for one missing worker, a police official said Sunday.

Northern Mindanao Police Regional Special Operations chief Senior Superintendent Reynante Reyes identified the fatalities as Raymond Castro, Jose Castro and Victor Aparellas – all were workers at the Nano Mines Trading’s mining site in Barangay Kapitan Bayong in Impasug-ong town.

“The rebels also took away some food supplies and miners’ belongings,” Reyes said, adding the wounded workers were brought to the hospital.

Rushed to a Cagayan de Oro City hospital were Rodello Cabaling, Mervin Penira, Alfie Cubison, Rey Soriano, Glen Jarnais, Alan Barandales and Brendo Buagan.

Citing reports reaching him, Reyes said some 70 NPA insurgents attacked the mining site, using firearms of different calibers.

According to police and military reports, the attack on the mining site happened simultaneously with the NPA rebels’ abduction of Surigao del Sur’s Lingig town mayor Henry Dano and two military escorts last Saturday morning.

PNP Northern Mindanao (Region 10) personnel are still investigating the incident, while a joint military and police operation has been launched against the attackers.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging a four-decade-old guerrilla war against the government. — Ben Serrano/MRT/LBG, GMA News