The eight military personnel and two staff of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) wounded in an explosion near transmission towers in Buadiposo-Buntong, Lanao del Sur are now in stable condition, the Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion (55IB).
In a statement released Wednesday evening, Lt. Col. Franco Raphael H. Alano, 55IB commanding officer, said five of the victims were immediately airlifted from the explosion site in Barangay Tangcal on September 28, and were brought to Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) in Marawi City.
Three others, all military personnel, were transferred to the 1st Infantry Division’s Kuta Cesar Sang-an Station Hospital. All have suffered shrapnel wounds.
The remaining two of the wounded Army personnel, meanwhile, were already released from the hospital and have returned to duty.
The incident happened when one of the team members under 2nd Lt. Bryan Paul Calilung tripped over a hidden vine that was connected to the grenade pin planted near the transmission tower while providing security assistance to the NGCP linemen who were conducting routine tower inspection and repair.
According to the NGCP, their linemen, along with the military escorts, were conducting an inspection of the Agus 2-Kibawe 138 Kilo-Volt lines 1 and 2, which tripped on Sept. 22 and 23, respectively, when the explosion occurred.
The NGCP had requested security assistance from 55IB because its staff members are allegedly threatened and intimidated by some locals who were demanding payment for the maintenance activities in the area.
Based on the initial investigation by the military, it appeared that transmission lines and towers were “being sabotaged by the locals,” affecting the power distribution in Lanao del Sur and its adjacent areas.
Alano said they will exhaust every means to serve justice.
In an earlier statement, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal A. Adiong Jr. expressed his dismay at the cruel act of some groups at the cost of his constituents.
“I am deeply alarmed after hearing what happened to the soldiers and NGCP linemen who were victims of the explosion. I am instructing the LGU (local government unit) and residents of Buadiposo-Buntong to help the authorities in the investigation of this ruthless incident,” Adiong said.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo, the 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, said that NGCP transmission towers are always the subject of numerous attacks.
He also said explosives are usually attached to the tower to topple it down. This time, however, Cuerpo said the blast was meant to injure people.
“The company stresses that any incident meant to interrupt the delivery of power transmission services only serves to increase the burden of the public, which must suffer through power interruptions when lines or towers are affected. Any attempt to hinder line clearing activities is a violation of the provisions under Republic Act 11361 or the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act and is punishable by up to 12 years imprisonment or fines up to PHP 200,000, or both,” the NGCP said in a separate statement.
NGCP appealed anew to the local and national government, local community leaders, and the public, to help identify the perpetrators, and to negotiate with uncooperative landowners, to prevent longer power interruptions.
“The public may report suspicious activities in the vicinity of its transmission lines and facilities to the NGCP Tip Hotline at 0917.847.6427 or 0918.847.6427.” the NGCP said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
