CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, 3 November — The military said yesterday it has foiled an attempt by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to topple down transmission line towers of the state-owned National Power Corp. in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon on All Saints Day.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu immediately denied accusation and warned the military against making “reckless” charges that could imperil the peace process.
Brig. Gen. Santiago Prejido, commander of the army’s 401st Brigade, said soldiers uncovered the plan after a raid in Barangay Damalama, Tagoloan Dos, Lanao del Sur on Thursday.
Two rebels, allegedly belonging to the MILF’s 2nd Battalion, were killed in an encounter that was triggered by the raid.
Prejido said they recovered documents containing the plot to bomb at least eight towers in Marawi City, Digsaan, Ramain and Bubong towns in Lanao del Sur and two other structures in Kibawe, Bukidnon.
Maj. Johnny Macanas, 4th Infantry Division spokesman, said that the planned bombings were aimed at sowing panic among residents of Mindanao, as it would render the island without power.
Macanas said that after the raid, soldiers inspected the targeted towers and discovered that the suspects have already managed to remove some of the towers’ bolts and braces.
However, Eid Kabalu, MILF spokesman said the military was concocting stories aimed at disturbing the already shaky peace negotiations. “They must be running out of things to do anymore because of the peace negotiations, so here they go again,” Kabalu said.
He said the military has since been trying to connect all sorts of incidents in Mindanao,with the MILF. “I really salute them for their rich imagination,” Kabalu said.
