HOUSE BLAST KILLS REP.
AKBAR, 12 OTHERS HURT
By KIT BAGAIPO

BOMB HITS CONGRESS. Tight security at the premises of the south wing of Congress after hit by a bomb explosion past 8 o'clock last night. Three dead, 12 others were wounded. *PDI Foto

QUEZON CITY - Rep. Wahab Akbar of Basilan, a staff and a driver of two other solons were killed when a bomb ripped through the south wing entrance of the House of Representatives in Quezon City last night. Aside from Akbar, the explosion also killed Maan Bustalino, a Boholana and a staff of Negros Oriental Rep.

Two other congressmen and ten more persons were also wounded in the explosion, just minutes after the House adjourned its session a little past 8 p.m.

Akbar was declared dead at the Far Eastern University Hospital at around 10:25 p.m.
The Basilan solon was already critical due to injuries in the face when rushed to the hospital.

Akbar, whose election as congressman is still under protest was scheduled to meet Mindanao governors today for a meeting, the agenda of which has not been known.

Akbar served as Basilan governor before having been elected as congressman. His remains will be flown to Basilan today in keeping with the Muslim tradition to bury the dead within 24-hours.

In an interview over dyRD's Tagbilaran-by-Nite, First District Rep. Edgar Chatto bared that Representatives Teves and Ilagan were among the wounded.

Teves was brought to the St. Luke's Hospital emergency room together with two of his staff for treatment, according to Chatto.

The solon was in "very critical condition" after sustaining blast injuries, including second and third degree burns and shrapnel wounds to the face and body while doctors might amputate his foot due to serious injuries.

The explosion was near the office of Second District Rep. Roberto Cajes. But the solon immediately left the Batasan Complex after the House session which adjourned at 8 p.m. (see separate story)

According to Chatto, the Batasan Complex maintains a tight security and the bomb blast was outside the building where cars of some solons were parked.

The solons and staff who were hit by the explosion were mostly preparing to leave the building and were waiting for their vehicles, Chatto said.

'AKBAR WAS TARGET'

National Capital Region Police Director Gearry Barias said in an interview that Akbar was the likely target of the bombing but added that they still had to confirm this.

The provincial government of Basilan, hours after the explosion, said that the blast is the handiwork of political opponents of Akbar and his family.

Cris Puno, Basilan's provincial information officer, said that the explosion was meant to kill Akbar.

Puno said that it was a move of Akbar's opponents to grab power in Isabela City, Basilan and in the entire province.

Puno added that "enemies of Akbar" are working hard for him to be out of power because they cannot accept that he holds power in Basilan.

Puno declined to name the perpetrators of the blast.

Barias said they suspect an improvised explosive device was remotely detonated because "the explosion occurred immediately after the suspension of the session at 8:05 p.m."

Barias added that they were looking at one of two motorcycles parked a few meters from the south wing lobby of the Batasan as the carrier of the bomb. The explosion left a three-foot crater.

AKBAR, WIVES CONTROLLED BASILAN

Akbar and two of his wives literally ran the province of Basilan.

His first wife, Jum, campaigned for and won the gubernatorial seat in the May 14 elections. His second wife, Cherrylyn, also won in the race for mayoralty of Isabela City, the province's capital.

Akbar was born on April 16, 1960 in Lantawan town in Basilan. He was elected governor in 1998 and was reelected to the same position in 2001.

Two of his wives decided to follow in his footsteps in the May local elections. A third wife ran but lost as mayor in Lamitan City, also in Basilan.

Aside from three wives, Akbar left behind two children.

Before his stint in politics, Akbar was widely believed to have strong ties with the bandit group Abu Sayyaf. Reports said that he was a commander of the group.

OTHER VICTIMS

Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, also identified another of the wounded as her driver Mike Lim. They were rushed to the nearby Miguel Malvar Hospital.

Two other victims, Julasiri 'Niki' Hayudini, a member of Teves' staff, and Denis Manila remain at New Era. Dr. Mike Brillantes described Hayudini as also in critical condition, with shrapnel wounds and burns all over her body and a left leg that might have to be amputated.

Malabanan also said Hayudini is intubated and unstable while Manila might need to undergo surgery for deep shrapnel wounds.

Barias said Tando, who was identified through his identification card, died on the spot and suffered "a very big wound" in his nape. His body to the National Bureau of Investigation for autopsy.

Maza said she had looked out her office window on hearing the explosion and saw Ilagan's car on the driveway of the south wing of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City and next to a vehicle, reportedly Akbar's Fortuner sports utility vehicle, which was on fire.

Representatives who were still inside the Batasan when the explosion occurred have not been allowed to leave.

The Gabriela solon said she and Ilagan had left the session hall together but her colleague went straight to the south wing to leave while she passed by her office.

"I heard a loud explosion and thought at first it was thunder but realized it was too loud to be thunder," Maza said. "When I looked out my window, I saw a vehicle on fire and near that vehicle was the car of Congresswoman Ilagan."

She said she immediately sent a member of her staff down to check the situation and was told "there were bodies sprawled throughout the lobby."

De Venecia said he had ordered a "clean sweep" of the sprawling complex, located north of the capital Manila, to ensure "there are no other bombs that are left behind."

Rep. Joel Villanueva said less than 50 of the House's 275 members were left inside when the bomb exploded.

"It was a very huge explosion," Villanueva said. "We are stunned."

"I heard it and I felt the blast although I was on the other side of the building. The ceiling of the canopy near the south wing entrance came down," said Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño.

Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon is under orders from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to personally supervise the investigation of the explosion.