Suspects in NGCP towers bombing arrested in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 15): Suspects in NGCP towers bombing arrested in North Cotabato

Police arrested here Wednesday night three men believed to be behind the bombing of two transmission towers of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) last week.

Chief Inspector Raymund Sarmogenes, company commander 2nd Maneuver Company of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB), said Senior Inspector Sindatu Karim, Pikit town police chief, sought the assistance of RPSB about a tip from concerned citizens that three armed men on board a motorbike will enter the town proper.

Sarmogenes said a surprised checkpoint was quickly established along a road near Fort Pikit at 10 p.m.

Minutes later, a Kawasaki motorbike with license plate MG-7541 with three men on board was flagged down for inspection.

Karim, quoting a report from RPSB, said the motorbike was driven by a certain Sam Hasan from Datu Paglas, Maguindanao. When he was subjected to body search, a live hand grenade fell off from his cargo pants.

Sarmogenes said the three, Hasan, Jonathan Pangawilan and Kuyog Sultan, both residents of Raja Muda, Pikit, North Cotabato were held for questioning.

Karim said Task Force Pikit has received a tip about the presence of men behind the bombings of NGCP Tower 44 and 45 on October 9.

Karim earlier said those behind the bombing of NGCP power lines were members of an extortion gang known as al-Khobar and outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The bombing plunged part of North Cotabato, the whole of Maguindanao and Cotabato City into darkness. Repair and rehabilitation for the fallen towers are still ongoing.

Karim said the suspects will be turned over to the North Cotabato provincial jail.

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