Bomb topples NGCP tower in North Cotabato

DAVAO CITY, Philippines–Five days after a bomb attack toppled a transmission tower of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines in Maguindanao, another tower was damaged in a powerful blast in Pikit town in North Cotabato on Sunday evening.

Capt. Joan Petinglay, spokesperson of the military’s 6th Infantry Division, said the bombing happened at the vicinity of Barangay (village) Batulawan around 8:15 p.m. “Upon an initial investigation by the PNP [Philippine National Police] and troops, a tower was seen toppled and still on fire at the area as of this report,” Petinglay said.

The attack caused a blackout in the provinces of North Cotabato and Maguindanao including Cotabato City.

Bomb experts were w en route to the blast site to investigate.

On Jan. 13, an explosion caused by improvised explosive devices damaged the NGCP Tower 26 between the boundary of Barangay Galakit and Barangay Layog in Pagalungan town at around 9:10 p.m.

Responding government forces found out that three of the four posts were heavily damaged, toppling the tower, Petinglay said.

“Initial EOD post-blast investigation conducted yield that there were three IEDs placed each in three of the posts and which were simultaneously blown through cellphone detonation. Metal fragments consistent with 81 mm mortar and 60 mm mortar as well as cellphone parts and 9 volts battery were seen in the area of explosion,” Petinglay added.

The government has not determined the identities of the perpetrators but the area is known to be a territory of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which the government has accused of staging bomb attacks.

The BIFF has consistently denied the allegations, asserting that they only attack military personnel and installations.

Led by former 105th Base Commander Ustadz Ameril Umra Kato, the BIFF broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front after serious disagreements on the conduct of the peace negotiations with the government.

Meanwhile, the military has deployed troops that would provide security for the NGCP personnel that would restore the damaged tower. Karlos Manlupig