Power tower bombings not poll-related – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines - The bombings of power transmission towers in Mindanao were not related to the elections, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista said yesterday.

“I was concerned the bombing was election-related…that’s why we decided to meet with concerned agencies,” Bautista told reporters after meeting with representatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

Bautista said the bombings could be related to right-of-way issues with landowners, who are seeking compensation for the putting up of transmission lines in their properties. He said the NGCP had asked the Comelec to come up with a resolution that would authorize the police and military to enter the properties and provide security to linemen who will repair toppled lines.