Lanao Norte NGCP tower bombed

Cop killed during clearing ops

MANILA, Philippines — A bomb attack toppled a transmission tower of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte at around midnight yesterday.

The explosion hit the NGCP’s Tower No. 14 of the Baloi-Aurora 138-kiloVolt line in Purok 3 in Barangay Paiton, Brig. Gen. Anthon Abrina, 2nd Mechanized Brigade commander, reported.

Chief M/Sgt. Roseller Hangka died when another improvised explosive device (IED) went off during clearing operations.

Hangka was a member of the explosive and ordnance disposal team of the Lanao del Norte police. He led a team of bomb experts who responded to reports of the explosion.

The policeman was taken to a hospital where he died.

Maj. Joann Navarro, Northern Mindanao police spokesperson, said the IED could have been set up as a booby trap by the perpetrators of the bomb attack.

“Our prayers and condolences to the bereaved family,” Brig. Gen. Lawrence Coop, Northern Mindanao police director, said in a statement.

There were reports that members of the Dawlah Islamiya were behind the attack.

The NGCP said there was no manual load dropping or power interruption due to incident. Repair of the transmission line would start as soon as the area is secured, it said.

The power company said it is coordinating with authorities to identify the perpetrators and secure the area.

The NGCP has been calling on the public to report suspicious activities within its transmission corridor to avoid disruption of power. — Roel Pareño, John Unson