Reds' bomb-try of Globe tower goes 'pffft'
Quick response of Army soldiers in Tubungan, Iloilo stopped short yet another attempt to bomb a cell site communication tower of Globe Telecommunications Company.
With major recoveries made by government troopers, the bombers were identified by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here as communist terrorists New People's Army (NPA).
In a report, The News Today (TNT) gathered that a group of at least fifteen armed men attacked about 1 a.m. Friday. The target was the Globe tower located at Sitio Apek, Barangay Ambarihon, some four kilometers off Tubungan town proper.
Two company guards managed to escape and alert town police following a kidnap-attempt by the armed men. The duo used the back door securing the tower to evade the group.
In a news release sent by the AFP here, the attackers were identified as NPAs belonging to the "Southern Front Terrorist Committee" of the local Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) hierarchy.
Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, commanding officer of the AFP's 3rd Civil Relations Group said the communist terrorist were led by a Ka Jess of Igbaras, Iloilo. The NPAs left the targeted area in haste sensing the arrival of the Army belonging to the 47th Infantry Batallion, 3rd Infantry Division.
Recovered were two pails of explosives and 50 meters of trip-wire. Had it been successfully detonated, damage would have been between P15 million to P20 million.
"Sadly, the communist terrorists who are under orders from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) are desperate to be noticed especially this week with the Dinagyang celebration sure to have thousands of foreign and national dignitaries," Captain Marquez said when reached by TNT. "But the Ilonggo masses and our tourist visitors in Panay Island have nothing to worry for the AFP and other law enforcement agencies work hand in hand coordinating to ensure stable peace and order of the Dinagyang."