BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — Disgruntled members of the Mamanwa tribe torched mining equipment owned by the Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC) in Claver, Surigao del Norte, on Thursday, the police said Friday.

TMC is the largest nickel mining company in Claver.

Superintendent Ruben de los Santos, Surigao del Norte police chief, said the armed tribesmen, numbering around 30, stormed TMC’s mining site in Barangay (village) Urbiztondo and abducted two company guards at around 6 a.m.

De los Santos said the attackers had figured in a dispute with the management of TMC over mine claims.

During the siege, they demanded that TMC release their share of royalties from the mining operations.

They failed to get their demand though and so they burned two dump trucks, two backhoes, one bulldozer and one road roller, De los Santos said.

“The burning incident was related to the royalty mine share row between the Mamanwas and the mining firm,” Delos Santos told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

He said the attackers freed the seized guards before fleeing.

The damage was estimated at P30 million, De los Santos said.

He said the police were now pursuing the attackers.

Delos Santos said he also ordered the deployment of additional police forces to help in the manhunt.

“The police are determined to arrest them,” he said.