Another NGCP tower bombed in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY -– Another steel pylon tower of the National
Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Lanao del Sur has been bombed,
the second in five days this month, NGCP today said.

In a statement, the NGCP said Tower No. 50 which carries the Agus 2 –
Kibawe 128 kV line in Barangay Pantar, Bubong, Lanao del Sur was bombed on
Monday morning.

Fortunately, the structure was not toppled,” it said. Restoration work
is in progress.

NGCP is yet to fully restore bombed Tower No. 25 in Ramain, Lanao del
Sur, the same tower that carries the Agus 2 – Kibawe (Bukidnon) 138kV line.

It was toppled when unidentified men set off improvised bomb on
Christmas Eve. NGCP personnel were repeatedly denied access to the area by lot
owner Johnny Sanbitoris who alleged that the government-run National Transmission
Corporation (Transco) is yet to pay his right of way claims.

The dispute remains unresolved to this day,” NGCP said.

Monday morning’s bombing was the second in the past five days in
Mindanao.

At about 11:58 on January 14, unidentified men also set off two improvised
bombs at the legs of NGCP Steel Tower No. 63 in Barangay Pagangan, Aleosan,
North Cotabato.

The tower was not toppled but tilted on its left making it vulnerable to
collapse, according to Senior Insp. Jun Napat, Aleosan town police chief. No one has claimed responsibility.

Melfrance Capulong, speaking for NGCP in southern Mindanao, said repair works of Tower 63 in Aleosan was fully repaired at 2 p.m. on
January 16 without resistance from lot owners as compared to repair works for
Tower 25 in Ramain, Lanao del Sur.

NGCP appealed for the expedited resolution between landowners and
Transco so that it could begin repairs at the soonest possible time.

In 2015, a total of 16 steel towers were bombed in Maguindanao, North
Cotabato and Lanao del Sur. (Edwin O. Fernandez)