MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) The province of North Cotabato is experiencing blackout this Wednesday after suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels attacked a tower of the National Transmission Corp. (Transco) the night before, according to reports culled by INQUIRER.net.

Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division, said the Muslim rebels bombed the Transco transmission tower in Barangay (village) Dalingaoen in Pikit town.

Radio dzMM said the rebels used a 51-millimeter mortar to bring down the transmission tower Tuesday night.

Ando said a bomb was also planted in another tower but failed to explode.

The radio report said that the 6th Infantry Battalion has launched hot pursuit operations.

But Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman, called for an investigation into the incident, saying that the allegation “is sweeping.”