Bombs bring power towers down in North Cotabato, cause brownouts

KIDAPAWAN CITY—Two explosions toppled two steel power pylons in Pikit, North Cotabato on Friday and plunged Cotabato City, Maguindanao province, and a number of towns in North Cotabato into darkness, police said on Saturday.

Senior Insp. Sindato Karim, Pikit police chief, said the explosions hit pylons No. 44 and 45 of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) in Barangay Batolawan around 11:45 p.m.

Karim said initial investigation revealed that improvised explosive devices were planted on the pylons.

He said the motive and identity of the attackers have yet to be determined.

Aside from Pikit, other areas that suffered outage as a result of the blasts in North Cotabato included Aleosan and Midsayap and other towns in the province’s first district with a population of at least 445,000.

Karim said the presence of a militia detachment some 400 meters from the towers did not deter the attackers.

The NGCP towers are part of the 138 kilovolt line that connects the Kibawe, Bukidnon and Kabacan Simuay stations. Williamor Magbanua and Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao