DAVAO CITY -- An officer of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), the firm developing the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project in southern Mindanao, was gunned down while jogging inside a subdivision here Friday morning.
Cristituto Gayamot Bual, 53, offsite land acquisition superintendent of SMI and resident of 109 Isarog Road, Central Park Subdivision in Bangkal, was jogging with his wife, Melanie, around 5:30 a.m. when the gunmen onboard a black Honda Wave motorcycle shot him in the head.
Melanie was left unharmed but had to be rushed to the hospital after she suffered a heart attack.
Witnesses said the gunman stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall, slight built, and was wearing camouflage pants and a cap.
Investigators recovered two spent shells of caliber .45 gun at the crime scene.
John Arnaldo, SMI corporate communications manager, confirmed Bual's death.
"We extend our sincere condolences to his wife and family during this tragic time," Arnaldo said, adding that a police investigation has commenced with which they will fully cooperate.
"Until the motive is determined, we will exercise caution in our daily activities in the area," he said. "SMI looks forward to the swift resolution of the incident in accordance with the rule of law."
SMI holds the contract for the Tampakan gold-copper project in Davao del Sur and South Cotabato.
Bual, who has been with SMI for almost three years, started with the Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Team of the mining company, which was responsible for the Davao del Sur area.
Stakeholder engagement and partnership involves building alliances with all stakeholders in the communities affected by the project to establish an environment that is favorable and secure for a project to operate.
Bual's body is now at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes, while his wife is undergoing treatment at the Davao Doctors' Hospital for a heart ailment. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
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