Not 2 but 3 transmission towers in Mindanao attacked during Christmas break —NGCP exec

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Not two but three transmission towers of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Mindanao were attacked by lawless elements before Christmas.

Engineer Godofredo Homez, general manager of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco), said that before the Christmas eve attacks, Tower No. 153 situated along the Kabacan-Tacurong 138KV line in Buluan, Maguindanao was bombed last December 23.  It did not, however, cause power outage, he said.

Homez used as basis in his report the advisory he received from NGCP Mindanao.

On December 24, two towers in Ramain, Lanao del Sur and in Carmen, North Cotabato were almost simultaneously attacked by still unidentified armed and lawless elements.

Authorities have yet to issue reports if the NGCP tower bombings were the handiwork of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Earlier, parts of Mindanao were placed under "high alert status" after reports of possible terror plots were monitored by intelligence operatives.  At least four towns and a city in North Cotabato were included in the list because of their proximity to BIFF bases.         

At around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, the NGCP finished repairing Tower No. 95 located along the Kibawe-Tacurong/Sultan Kudarat 138KV line in North Cotabato.

This as NGCP Mindanao issued an appeal to the national and local governments to help curb attacks on transmission lines.

“We also appeal to the public to report any suspicious activities at or near its transmission lines to local law enforcement offices to prevent further power outage caused by those attacks,” stated the NGCP media advisory.  —KG, GMA News