A Calgary-based company whose employees were attacked and killed in an ambush near its Philippine mining operations last month has received reassurances from the national government and military of additional security for the area.
TVI Pacific Inc., which runs its Canatuan gold mine and precious metals plant on Mindanao Island, about 800 kilometres south of Manila, says its management team, including company CEO Cliff James, recently met with senior government officials.
On Dec. 27, a company truck carrying 31 members of a local indigenous community to a local market was fired upon by an armed group in Zamboanga del Norte, killing 13 people, including eight women and children, and wounding another dozen.
The Philippine military blamed the attack on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, which has denied the allegation. The military and the Philippine national police are continuing to investigate, and are providing “substantially” increased security throughout the Canatuan area, says TVI.
The company is providing medical and financial aid to the affected families.
Jesus Dureza, the Philippine presidential adviser for Mindanao, also visited Canatuan to pledge his support. “Our visit was to reinforce investors’ confidence in the government, and to reiterate our stand that we support private-sector led initiatives that will have great impact on the economic and social development of depressed communities,” he said.
“The government must show its strong political will to ensure that development projects such as that of TVI at Canatuan will not be wasted due to peace-and-order problems.”
Despite the attack and subsequent delays in delivery of materials and services to the plant, TVI says it will continue the process of commissioning its Canatuan operation.
It added in a statement last week that the only development which can account for recent high trading activity in its stock has been the support of the Philippine government to TVI’s project.
