SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed apprehension on Monday over the spate of bombing incidents of power transmission lines in the country thus called for more resolute actions to address it.
Marcos made the appeal in the light of the series of bombing of transmission lines in Mindanao and the two transmission towers of wind farms in Ilocos Norte, saying these might have something to do with the coming May elections.
"I don't want to speculate but I could not help but suspect because no less than the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) had raised the alarm over the escalation of incidents and its relation to the upcoming elections. So I am extremely worried," Marcos said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the NGCP warned of a possible grid collapsed after several transmission towers were toppled in Mindanao.
In 2015, a total of 16 towers were bombed in the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Lanao del Sur, while in 2016, at least two towers were bombed in Cotabato and Lanao del Sur.
Last week, two transmission towers in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte operated by wind farm developer UPC Renewables were also bombed by still unidentified attackers.
NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said that due to the escalation of bombings, conducting elections would be difficult.
"We have observed an escalation, and we are honestly worried about the elections… It is very difficult to conduct election in darkness or by candlelight. How can people exercise their right to vote? It's a presidential election so we are very concerned," Alabanza said.
Marcos said the Inter-Agency Task Force created to secure the transmission towers should make a periodical report on its members' actions to stop the bombings, as well as on the status of the repairs made on the damaged towers.
Because of its possible impact on the elections, he said the government should act more resolutely on the incidents.
"We need swift and determined action on this very serious problem because it will affect the credibility of the elections. We might have more serious problems later on," Marcos said.
The senator also stressed that those responsible for the bombings must be arrested and charged in court.
"These bombing incidents have put ordinary citizens, the small businessmen at a disadvantaged," he said. "Our leaders should assuage the fear of our people and treat this as a grave problem by taking more decisive and concerted actions." (Sunnex)