SECURE. Northern Mindanao police director Chief Supt. Lyndel Desquitado orders tight security near power lines in the region following last week’s bombing of two NGCP towers that aggravated Mindanao’s volatile power situation. (PHOTO BY NITZ ARANCON)
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By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

CAMP Alagar over the weekend ordered tight security near power lines and facilities of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) following Thursday night’s bombings in Marawi City that aggravated Mindanao’s volatile power situation ahead of the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.

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Chief Supt. Lyndel Desquitado, police director for Region 10, directed police commanders across northern Mindanao to send out patrol teams, and secure power transmission  lines and vital installations to avoid a repeat of the Oct. 29 bombings that toppled two NGCP towers and isolated at least 150 mw generated by two Agus hydrolectric plants from the Mindanao power grid.

The NGCP went on red alert as Mindanao’s power generation capacity dramatically plunged, leaving Mindanao with no power reserves following the Marawi bombings. The attacks aggravated the problem on Mindanao’s power supply following the scheduled preventive maintenance shutdowns of a power generation units of the geothermal power plant in Davao and the coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Misamis Oriental Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez condemned the Marawi bombings, calling the its an act of “economic sabotage” that had “massive effects” against the interest of Mindanaoans.

Pelaez called on President Aquino to immediately deploy troops to Marawi to guard and secure these vital installations against those out to hamper NGCP operations.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District said the government should bring the saboteurs to justice.

“The perpetrators should be punished, and put behind bars,” said Rodriguez.

The city council’s chairman for public safety, Councilor Ramon Tabor, also expressed his dismay over the Marawi bombings.

“This should be condemned by all,” said Tabor, adding that he feared that the sabotage could be related to the call for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“I don’t want to speculate but I really hope this is not related to the ongoing discussions on the BBL,” he said.

Meanwhile, Desquitado ordered city, provincial, and town police directors in the region to provide security escorts to NGCP linemen fielded to get rid of vegetation near its power lines.

His order came after the NGCP complained that a number of landowners have been uncooperative and have barred linemen from fixing power lines within their properties. In Marawi before the bombings, a landowner barred linemen from his property, resulting in the isolation of nearly 30 mw generated by Agus plants from the Mindanao grid.

Desquitado said the military would also help the NGCP by providing more security escorts.

Councilor Tabor, for his part, said he agreed with Rep. Rodriguez about the need for a law that would give linemen the legal right to fix power lines within private property because public interest is at stake.

He said congressmen should support Rodriguez who earlier revealed that he would author the proposed law before he steps down next year.

 

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