Friday, February 01, 2008 Attack on Napocor towers, sign of frustration: MILF By Ben O. Tesiorna
IT'S not plain extortion activity but a sign of frustration by the people over the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
This was MILF's reaction on the statement of the National Transmission Corporation, saying that the recent bombing of their transmission towers in Lanao provinces was the handiwork of extortionists.
Khaled Musa, deputy chair of the MILF committee on information, said in a report posted at www.luwaran.com that the bombings could be attributed to the "growing frustrations of the ordinary people" over the messy mishandling of the power company and the latest misbehavior of the government in the GRP-MILF Peace Process.
Musa cited the following reasons that led him to conclude so:
* Despite the Lake Lanao as the source of the hydroelectric power for Napocor, the people of Lanao are deprived of electricity. Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte suffer power failures more frequently than any other areas in Mindanao;
* The government is planning to sell Napocor to the State Grid Company of China at the whopping price of $4 billion. First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is reportedly facilitating the sale, who, in behalf of the government, wrote Napocor to make an updated assessment of all the assets and liabilities of the state-owned company for the eventual sale; and
* The misbehavior of the government in the peace process by "setting aside or reneging" on the consensus points on ancestral domain.
Musa said the MILF is also conducting its own investigation over the incidents, past and present.
The latest toppling of Napocor towers in Lanao provinces affected the power grid of Mindanao and could cause massive blackouts in the island.
It was learned that about nine transmission towers in different towns in Lanao del Norte, Marawi City, and Lanao del Sur were attacked by "lawless elements" since January 1.
Napocor officials said if the bombings on the towers continue, it will cause a total blackout in Mindanao.
According to Brigadier General Reynard Ronnie Javier of the Philippine Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade, the police have identified the extortion group Al-Khobar as responsible for the bombings.
The bombs or 81mm mortar shells used in the attack on the towers are identified with the group, which has been extorting money from passenger bus liners in Central Mindanao.
