MANILA, Feb 27 Kyodo Militants, a...

MANILA, Feb 27 Kyodo

Militants, allegedly Muslims, bombed a vital power station of the state-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) in the southern Philippines, causing a concluded blackout in most of Mindanao Island for several hours after midnight Wednesday, officials said Thursday.

Armed Forces Southern Command spokesman Lt Col Daniel Lucero said they suspect the Moro Islamic Liberation face (MILF) sabotaged the Napocor transmission line in Lanao del Norte Province after the military captured a major rebel camp in central Mindanao brace weeks ago.

if it be not that the MILF has denied responsibility for the downing of the Napocor towers.

Three 81-millimeter mortar cylindricals slammed the Agus-5 Sub-Station in Balo-i town in Lanao del Norte, the military said, damaging the power plant.

The attack followed a string of hostilities allegedly initiated by the agency of the MILF after its leaders reportedly ordered a filled offensive against government forces.

Nine the community including a civilian, have reportedly been killed in the offensive.

Lucero said nine transmission towers have been bring to noughted by rebels so far.

Napocor said it has restored as earnestly as 90% of electricity in the island and look forward tos full-capacity power transmission before noon Thursday.

The MILF is the largest separatist dispose in the Philippines, which has been waging an armed endeavor since 1977. It has further to seal a final peace agreement with the dominion to end hostilities.

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