KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Loud blasts coming from powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) destroyed the tower of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao around 9 p.m. Sunday, a military official said.
Colonel Dickson Hermoso of the 6th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office said the explosions caused long and massive brownouts in Cotabato City and nearby areas from 9 p.m. until 10 a.m. Monday.
At least two IEDs were planted on the NGCP tower number 168 located on Kilometer 14, Barangay Ladia in Sultan Kudarat.
Although no one was hurt in the explosions, residents nearby panicked, reports said.
At around 3 a.m. Monday, members from the 2nd Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary and 17th Maguindanao Civilian Armed Auxiliary were deployed in the area to conduct security and foot patrol operations.
The troops also cordoned the blast site to check for a possible secondary explosion, Hermoso said.
Authorities discovered that the NGCP Tower 168 collapsed.
They also recovered from the site several components of IEDs.