The Army spokeswoman, Captain Jo-ann Petinglay reported that troops from the Sixth Infantry Division started to secure all vital facilities of the central province of Mindanao, said Prensa Latina News Agency reports.

An explosion last night knocked down an energy tower that darken the neighboring provinces of North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Almost at the same time, a grenade attack destroyed road segments near the town of Tipo-Tipo, one of the areas where Abu Sayyaf insurgent organization operates.

Meanwhile, in the town of Carmen, North Cotabato, an explosion of Granada wounded a 43-year-old woman, explained Petinglay.

The visit of Pope Francis will only cover Manila, the capital, and the province of Leyte, the most affected by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013, however, the army adopted precautionary measures in most of the country.

Military officials refused to comment on whether the aforementioned attacks constitute a threat of insurgency against the Holy pontiff who will arrive tomorrow to the Philippines and will stay until Monday.

Nearly 60 percent of the 90 million people in the Philippines is Catholic, but in some regions their residents opt for Islam and even maintained belligerency to achieve autonomy from the central government.