ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/26 February) – Power went out in the whole of Basilan Monday night after unidentified gunmen attacked the National Power Corporation’s (NPC) Power Barge 119 based in the province, officials said on Tuesday.
Chief Insp. Ariel Huesca, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-9, however said no one was killed or injured in the attack that took place around 10:15 p.m. Monday.
He said the attack damaged the fuse of the power barge causing a total shutdown.
The barge is moored at the shore of sitio Palar, Barangay Tabuk, Isabela City, Basilan.
Huesca said no one was able to recognize the attackers since it was too dark at the time of the incident.
The attackers, who were aboard two motorized boats, fled towards Lantawan town, he said.
A militiaman on duty managed to return fire but it was not clear if he hit any of the attackers, he added.
Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the 104th Infantry Brigade, refused to say whether or not the attackers were Abu Sayyaf bandits saying they were still investigating.
NPC personnel were working to restore the power service in the province the soonest possible time.
Robert Dumais, operation and maintenance head of Power Barge 119, said that as of 3 p.m. Tuesday the facility was 50 percent functioning.
Dumais said they did not receive any threat or extortion demand before the attack.
He said additional soldiers armed with caliber .50 machineguns were deployed to the power facility. (MindaNews)