2 transmission towers in Ilocos Norte bombed

PASUQUIN, Ilocos Norte—Two transmission towers operated by wind farm developer UPC Renewables collapsed on Thursday night, following a large explosion, Pasuquin town mayor Peter Felix Aguinaldo said on Friday.

Residents in the mountainous village of Tadao, about 25 kilometers from Laoag City, reported hearing an unusual sound on Thursday evening and discovered the toppled facilities that transmit electricity produced by wind farms here.

Police said they received reports that bomb fragments were scattered around the area.

As of press time, local authorities have deployed teams to the said area to verify the report.

Representatives of the UPC Renewables have not yet released an official statement.

The Pagudpud wind farm is a joint venture of Ayala Corporation’s AC Energy Holdings, Inc., UPC Renewables and Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure.

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The Ilocos police refused to offer any theories to explain the blast until they complete their investigation on the matter.

Last November 2014, the inauguration of the 81-megawatt Pagudpud wind farm was marred by protests from residents who appealed to its operator, the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp., to relocate its transmission lines. These towers, they said, have encroached into their properties. RAM

READ: Protest greets launch of another wind project