Mine exec killed in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – An official of Sagittarius Mines Inc. was shot in the head at 5:30 a.m. Friday by unidentified assailants inside the Central Park Subdivision here.

Senior Superintendent Rene Aspera, Davao City police chief, said Cris Bual, an offsite land acquisition superintendent for SMI, died instantly.

Aspera said the police were still investigating the killing.

John Arnaldo, SMI manager for corporate communications, said Bual had been employed by SMI for the past three years.

Prior to his current position, Arnaldo said, Bual was assigned with the stakeholder engagement and partnership team responsible for securing consent for the mining operations in SMI’s concession area in Davao del Sur.

Arnaldo said SMI looks forward to the resolution of the case but declined to comment on whether or not Bual’s killing was work-related.

He said until the motive has been established, SMI workers would exercise caution in their daily activities.