2 hurt as blasts rock power sub-station in Sarangani

Koronadal City – Loud explosions rocked a power sub-station in Maasim town Friday night, three days after unidentified armed-men fired an M-79 grenade launcher at the perimeter fence of Sarangani provincial jail in the municipality of Alabel of Sarangani province.

Senior Inspector Joefel Remodaro, police chief of Maasim town, said two powerful grenades were hurled at the transformer of South Cotabato Electric Cooperative’s power sub-station in Maasim at around 7 p.m. Friday.

Remodaro said no one was killed in the said explosion but the two security guards, identified as Carlos Calderon and Rey Sambrona, of the power station were wounded.

The two wounded security guards are out of danger now and presently confined in one of the hospitals there, report showed.

The power attack did not cause power failure in the entire Sarangani and neighboring provinces but it triggered fears among the residents living near the said power sub-station, Remodaro said.  

The police official said he cannot yet give the motive and the persons behind the grenade attack since they are still investigating it.

Remodaro said they are also investigating if the Friday grenade attack has connection with the explosion in front of the Maasim police station last week and the reported firing of an M-79 grenade launcher at the fence of Sarangani’s provincial jail in Alabel town on Wednesday.

The STAR learned that prior to the grenade attack, the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II, based in nearby General Santos City deployed additional security guards in its power sub-station in Maasim due to alleged threats from unidentified armed groups.