2 Canadian miners held by tribesmen

DAVAO CITY – Two Canadian mining consultants, together with their four Filipino companions, were briefly held but freed unharmed last Tuesday by members of the B’laan tribe opposed to a major copper project in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, authorities said.

Police identified the two foreigners as Andrei Argamomob, 45, and Deth Triesen, 23, both surveyors of Sagittarius Mines Inc., the local arm of the Xstrata Plc global mining group based in Zug, Switzerland.

Chief Inspector Querubin Manalang, spokesman of the regional police, said two B’laan leaders were among those who accosted the two and their Filipino companions.

Manalang said the incident could not be considered as abduction since the group was immediately freed after their belongings were seized.

Manalang said a group of B’laans armed with a 12-gauge shotgun flagged down the group in Barangay Takob in Kiblawan town at around 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Manalang said the tribesmen thought the group was carrying money. “But it turned out that the victims were carrying their surveying equipment,” he said.

The tribesmen reportedly demanded P10,000 in exchange for the release of the equipment seized from the group.

Manalang said the equipment was returned to the group at around 5 p.m. Wednesday with the help of the local village chief.

“I understand the equipment was released even without the victims paying the P10,000 that was asked of them,” he said.

Police have launched a manhunt for the tribesmen who held the group, particularly the two B’laan leaders.

Aside from their operations in Kiblawan, Xstrata is also into mining activities in Tampakan, South Cotabato.