Camarines mine firm owner slain in ambush

LAGUNA, Philippines – An owner of a gold processing plant in Camarines Norte was killed while his female companion was seriously wounded in an ambush in Barangay Turbina in Calamba City Thursday morning, police said.

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent James Melad identified the fatality as Arnel Elnar, owner of the Elnar gold processing plant and a resident of Barangay Sta. Rosa Norte in Camarines Norte.

Elnar was declared dead on arrival at the Calamba Medical Center. His companion, Charmaine Faith Ivigo, an accounting clerk of a gasoline station in Barangay Real, was still in critical condition in the same hospital.

Melad said the victims were on a Toyota Fortuner when two men on a gray Toyota Corolla with license plate TXH-806 fired at them.

Melad told The STAR that investigators were eyeing three angles – business rivalry, personal grudge, and love triangle.