Small-scale mine operator dead, woman hurt in attack

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna—The owner of a gold mining firm in Camarines Norte was killed while his female companion was wounded after unidentified men attacked them in Calamba City, Laguna, early Thursday.

Police identified the victim as Arnel Elnar, owner of the Elnar Gold Processing plant in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte.

Elnar was pronounced dead on arrival at the Calamba Medical Center while his companion, identified as Charmaine Faith Vigo, suffered several gunshot wounds.

Vigo is a clerk at a gasoline station in the city and a resident of Cabuyao City, Laguna.

Supt. Leovegildo Manaig, Calamba police chief, said in a report that the victims had just left a local motel on board a Toyota Fortuner in Barangay Turbina when they were waylaid at around 6 a.m. by armed men riding a gray Toyota Corolla (TXH806).

Two of the men alighted from the car and opened fire at the victims’ vehicle, police said.