Maguindanao NGCP tower bombed

From Rappler (Sep 2): Maguindanao NGCP tower bombed

An improvised explosive device blasted a tower of the National Grid Corp of the Philippines in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao Sunday evening, September 1, causing massive power interruption.

Col Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the military's 6th Infantry Division, said tower number 168 in Kilometer 14, Barangay Ladia was destroyed by a loud explosion Sunday evening. Civilian auxiliary units were only able to enter the area early Monday.

Quoting initial reports from members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), Hermoso said the tower collapsed and that IED components were recovered from the site.

"Combined elements from 2nd SCAA Company and 17TH Maguindanao CAA Company conducted security patrol to verify the source of explosion and discovered that NGCP tower number 168 is destroyed which resulted to massive brown out in Cotabato City and adjoining areas," Hermoso said.

Soldiers have already cordoned off the area for possible secondary explosions.
The NGCP, on its Twitter account, said the Kibawe-Sultan Kudarat 138 kV line was monitored to be out since 9:06 Sunday evening.

"The NGCP is still checking the cause of outage as the ongoing encounter between MILF and army troops near the area has prevented NGCP from conducting line patrol and repair works," the NGCP said.

However, Moro Islamic Liberation Front vice chair for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar denied that MILF forces are involved in a firefight in the area.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/37918-maguindanao-ngcp-tower-bombed