12:09 AM
February 22nd, 2016
PASUQUIN, Ilocos Norte—Two
transmission towers operated by wind farm developer UPC Renewables in Pasuquin
town were destroyed by what appeared to be explosives set off on Thursday.
Residents in the mountainous village
of Tadao, 25 kilometers from Laoag City, reported hearing an unusual sound and
finding the 100-meter towers shattered.
The tower foundations were spared by
the blast but metal fragments littered the area when residents investigated,
according to reports that reached the police.
A police team sent on Friday to
investigate took four hours to reach Tadao. The damaged towers were set apart
by 250 m, which also required long treks for the investigators.
Police said the blast could have
occurred between 9 and 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. The explosives appeared to have
been designed by an expert bomber, said Supt. Leiland Benigno of the Ilocos
Norte police.
The towers transmit electricity
produced by the wind farm in Pagudpud town. The wind farm is a joint project of
AC Energy Holdings Inc., UPC Renewables, and the Philippine Investment Alliance
for Infrastructure.
In November 2014, the inauguration
of the 81-megawatt Pagudpud wind farm was marred by protests from residents who
appealed to its operator, North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp., to relocate its
transmission lines. The towers, they said, have encroached into their property.
Leilanie Adriano, Inquirer Northern Luzon
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