Filipino terrorists bomb same power tower again
The same power tower was bombed in June this year.
COTABATO: Suspected local terrorists have reportedly bombed again a power tower in the southern Philippine province of Cotabato.
The commander of the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. Rowel Gavinales said in a report that armed groups bombed one of the transmission towers of the National Grid Corporation (NGCP) in Sitio Punol, Batulawan village, Pikit municipality, on Saturday.
The police and military inspected NGCP’s Tower No. 39 and found that although the twin blasts caused minor damage, these did not affect the structure’s integrity, Gavinales said.
The bomb squads also recovered one improvised explosive device (IED) fashioned from 81mm at the scene.
“The bombs were attached to the braces and not on the four legs of the steel tower, thus the structure remained,” he was quoted as saying.
The official said this indicated the bombers did not intend to topple the tower but were “sending a message” to the company.
He said it was the same tower where suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters terror group allegedly detonated three IEDs on June 12 this year.
The structure only suffered minor damage then.
The latest attack prompted the military to deploy "spotters" to monitor and prevent future attempts to bomb power lines in the province and surrounding areas.
Gavinales said his unit employed locals living near power transmission towers to help suppress sabotage.