CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Unidentified gunmen bombed a power pylon, the third attacks in two days, in the southern Philippines where rebels are actively operating, officials said Wednesday.
Officials said the latest attack on government transmission towers occurred before midnight on Tuesday in the hinterland village of Sogod in Marawi City.
The National Transmission Corporation said the explosion toppled the pylon.
Engineer Emmanuel Abellanosa, assistant vice president for Mindanao operations and maintenance, the attack interrupted supply of electricity only in two firms, the Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP) in Balo-I town in Lanao del Norte and the Mindanao Silicon in Manticao town in Misamis Oriental provinces.
He said they received no threats from any rebel groups, but admitted more security forces were needed in the area to protect the steel pylons from being attacked again.
"We need more fresh troops to patrol our lines," Abellanosa said.
Regional police chief Teodorico Capuyan said the bombers may have been motivated by revenge following the pullout of the Philippine Marines from the area.
Troops previously guarding the area have been redeployed to other provinces.
Authorities had in the past blamed such attacks on rouge members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting for self-rule in Mindanao.
The MILF is currently negotiating peace with Manila.
Two similar pylons were also bombed and toppled over the weekend near Iligan City and in Lanao province. No groups claimed responsibility for all three bombings. (Mike Banos)
Two similar pylons were also bombed and toppled over the weekend near Iligan City and in Lanao province. No groups claimed responsibility for all three bombings. (Mike Banos)
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