1 killed, 2 hurt as rebels attack ComVal gold panning site

From the Philippine News Agency (May 24): 1 killed, 2 hurt as rebels attack ComVal gold panning site

Fifteen heavily-armed members of the New People's Army (NPA) attacked a gold panning site in Sitio Panganason, Kingking, Pantukan town, Compostela Valley Province, killing a ball mill operator and wounding two security guards Thursday morning.

Senior Supt. Camilo Cascolan, Compostela Valley Province police chief, said the incident took place around 5 a.m.

He identified the fatality as Aso Masayaw.

Cascolan said the rebels appeared out of nowhere and fired on the facility, hitting Masayaw in the back and causing the latter's death.

Duty guards present engaged the NPAs in an hour-long gun battle that apparently resulted to the wounding rebels as they flee the area.

Pursuit operations are still ongoing. Harassment is being eyed as the motive for this attack.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=527528