Police named the Al-Khobar extortion group on Sunday as the
persons responsible in bombing two transmission pylons of the National Grid
Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Barangay Batulawan here Friday night.
Senior Insp. Sindatu Karim, Pikit town police chief, said
initial investigation showed members of the Al-Khobar gang planted about six
improvised explosive devices at the foot of Steel Tower Nos. 44 and 45 in
Barangay Batulawan, Pikit and set them off at 11:45 p.m.
As the two towers fell, power was cut off in some towns of
North Cotabato, the whole of Maguindanao and Cotabato City
Al-Khobar is a gang composed of former Moro rebels turned
into banditry and preying on multinational firms and bus companies in Central Mindanao .
The group has been blamed in previous bombings against NGCP
power lines in Pikit, North Cotabato and in
Pagalungan and Pagagawan towns in Maguindanao.
The same group was believed behind bus bombings in South
Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato in
the past.
Karim said the bombed towers were about 200 meters away from
a militia detachment and 50 meters away from a major government irrigation
project.
Responding policemen, elements of the 7th Infantry Battalion
and Task Force Pikit arrived at the blast site about 15 minutes later.
“The IEDs were planted within four feet of Tower 44 which
toppled the steel structures while Tower 45 tilted on its side,” Karim said.
Police and Army bomb experts said the suspects used 60mm and
81mm mortars in toppling the towers.
Capt. Joann Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson,
said another unexploded IED was found hanging in Tower 45. It was safely
defused by Army bomb experts.
The NGCP-managed towers were part of the 138-KV line that
connects power from Kibawe, Bukidnon stations to Kabacan—Simuay line.
Previous attacks on NGCP power lines were blamed on outlawed
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) which also operate in Pikit.
Friday night's attack was the fourth this year against NGCP
towers in Pikit, North Cotabato and nearby
Pagalungan in Maguindanao.
On Jan. 13 and 18, lawless elements bombed Tower 26 and
Tower 41 in Barangay Ginakit, Pagalungan, Maguindanao and Barangay Batulawan,
Pikit, North Cotabato , respectively.
Bambie Capulong, speaking for NGCP Southern Mindanao region,
said efforts are underway to repair the damaged pylons which, she said, could
last about a week or two to complete.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=813876
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