Police chief Aaron Aquino of southern Compostela Valley province says about 60 New People’s Army guerrillas flagged down four motorcycle-riding guards on a remote mining road Thursday and demanded their assault rifles and radios.

Aquino says one rebel apparently resisted and was fatally shot. The mine is owned by Russell Mining & Minerals Inc.

Private security guards are not authorized to carry assault rifles and police have repeatedly warned that such weapons attract rebels.

The insurgents have fought for a Marxist state for decades.