Vancouver geologist killed working in Southeast Asia

A Canadian geologist was killed while working in the Philippines.

Colin Spence of Vancouver, B.C., died June 4 after gunmen fired on a helicopter carrying him and another geologist. The men, who were conducting exploration work for Rio Algom, were inspecting a gold mine 200 km north of Manila when the attack occurred. Attempts to revive Spence at a nearby base camp were unsuccessful. No one else was injured.

“We’ll re-examine the situation there and see [what course of action] is warranted,” said John Bush, Rio Algom’s vice-president general counsel. Bush said he was uncertain how Spence’s death would affect the company’s operations in the Southeast Asian country. “It’s difficult to answer at this point.”

Philippine President Fidel Ramos has ordered a manhunt to apprehend the killers.