P100K bounty up for arrest of Ilocos power tower bombers

By Ariel Paolo Tejada

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – A P100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of those who bombed two transmission towers of  the North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp. in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte on Feb. 19.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said Tuesday the money would come from the provincial government.

Supt. Leland Benigno, Ilocos Norte police chief, said the suspects appeared to be well trained in bomb making.

“Initial findings of the explosives and ordnance division of the Philippine National Police reveal that the destruction of the two transmission towers was caused by an improvised explosive device designed to cause high-order detonation,” Benigno said.

Benigno said the materials used in making the improvised bomb are similar to those used in dynamites.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said the power supply in the province remains normal despite the bombing.

The towers, each 100 meters high, transmit electricity from the Caparispisan Wind Farm in Pagudpud town.

The farm is a $220-million joint venture of AC Energy Holdings, UPC Philippines Wind Holdco and Philippine Alliance for Infrastructure.