NGCP asks police for help in securing facilities

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  – The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has sought help from law enforcers to protect the power lines and towers it constructed along the hinterland barangays of Catigbian and Sagbayan towns.

This request came after law enforcers here downplayed the possible involvement of the NPA in last week’s blasting of power line towers, erected by the NGCP at Brgy Sta. Catalina in Sagbayan town.

In its press release, NGCP stated: “Tower 164 of the Bohol Backbone Transmission Line Project was bombed Saturday night, December 3, at around 10 p.m. by still unidentified persons. The incident did not cause any interruption on power customers in the area. The concrete pedestal of the tower legs remained intact despite the blasts. The tower was erected just two weeks ago at Barangay Sta. Catalina, Sagbayan, Bohol. It is said to be located 100 meters away from the highway and about 300 meters from nearby houses.”

The NGCP however did not mention anything about its alleged failure to pay the owners of the lot where the tower was built, but it condemned the blasting as an act of atrocity. It coordinated with the police for securing more the firm’s power project and tapped residents there to report any suspicious people in their area.

Police and military officials in Bohol earlier ruled out the possible involvement of the NPA to the blasts, and instead focused their investigations on the angle of alleged failure of NGCP to pay the lot owners. This matter however needs confirmation.

The perpetrators used an improvised explosive device (IED) in a failed attempt to topple the NGCP tower, which connects the power lines from Ubay to Corella towns. (FREEMAN)