B2Gold employee shot and killed at Philippine mining operation

A Canadian gold mining firm says a long-time employee was shot and killed at its Philippine mining operation, about 350 kilometres south of the capital Manila.

B2Gold Corp. says police are investigating the incident, which involved an altercation on Saturday between employee Jessie Villegas and a security guard with Kublai Khan Security Services at the Masbate open pit mining operation.

The company said the unidentified security guard was arrested by the Philippine National Police at Aroroy.

B2Gold provided few details about Villegas but said he is survived by his wife, Antonieta Marcial Villegas, and 11 children.

The mining and milling operation on the island of Masbate was acquired by B2Gold through a merger with CGA Mining Ltd., that was completed in early 2013.

B2Gold's other mining operations are in Nicaragua and Namibia and it has properties in Mali, Burkina Faso and Colombia.