NGCP steel tower in Maguindanao bombed

MANILA) -- Another tower of power-grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) in Mindanao was bombed Friday evening.In an advisory Saturday, the company said NGCP's Tower #168 of Kabacan-Sultan Kudarat 138kV line in Ladia, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao was bombed on 18 December at 11:00 p.m. NGCP bared one of the legs of the tower was cut.However, it said the bombing did not affect its power transmission lines and did not cut off power flow to Ladia, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.The grid operator said tower repairs will start after the area is secured.NGCP noted the same tower was earlier bombed by lawless elements.On Dec. 10, NGCP Tower No. 68 was toppled by bomb attack in Aleosan, North Cotabato,triggering a 15-hour blackout in parts of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Cotabato City.The Kabacan-Nuling substation lines were restored only few days ago.The grid operator warned that more bombing incidents might cause a power interruption for the areas during the holidays.NGCP stressed it has called upon the public, national and local government and the Philippine Army to assist in resolving the security issues.(PNA)