Two security guards of a Canadian mining company operating in the Philippines have been shot dead. The Vancouver-based B2Gold Corp. has confirmed the deaths at its Masbate Gold Project located 350 kilometres south of Manila. 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.

The company said in a statement that the guards were shot at their guard post last February 11.

Both guards worked for a security contractor and the deaths are under investigation by Philippine National Police.

These deaths follow the shooting death of a long-time employee last December at the same mining operation.

B2Gold said that incident involved an altercation between employee Jessie Villegas and a security guard who was later arrested by police.