Canatuan guards killed (March 25, 2002)

Two security guards employed by TVI Pacific (tvi-t) were killed during an ambush 8 km from the Canatuan gold property in the Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte.

The junior was gearing up to start production and had run into local resistance when an unknown group attacked the 8-man foot patrol monitoring the property.

Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a group of rebel Muslims, have reportedly demanded that TVI pay the equivalent of $3,000 a month as protection money.

Both victims were locals employed by a security company hired by TVI. Currently, the project has a security force of 25.

The Canatuan massive sulphide project lies on the western side of Mindanao Island. The project hosts an open-pit reserve of 1.1 million tonnes grading 3.77 grams gold and 105.7 grams silver per tonne in the oxide zone and 1.51 million tonnes grading 1.31 grams gold and 62.14 grams silver, plus 2.79% copper and 2% zinc, in the sulphide portion.