Suspected communist rebels attack US mining firm in Philippines

Jul 18, 2011, 4:59 GMT

Manila - Suspected communist rebels attacked a US mining company in the southern Philippines and burned equipment, a military report said Monday.

At least 30 suspected guerrillas raided the St Augustine Copper and Gold Ltd compound late Saturday in Pantukan town in Compostela Valley province, 930 kilometres south of Manila, the report said.

The guerillas disarmed a security guard and burned the company's drilling equipment. No one was injured.

St Augustine is a joint venture between the US firm Russel Mining and Minerals Inc and the Philippines' Nationwide Development Corp.

Communist guerrillas are opposed to all forms of mining in the Philippines because of its ecological damage and the dislocation of local communities near mining sites.

Communist rebels have been fighting the government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia.

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