MANILA - A bomb exploded at the south side of the Batasan Pambansa last night, killing a congressman, a driver and a member of the House staff. At least nine others were injured, officials said.
Police and soldiers in the capital went on high alert after the blast, which happened less than a month after an explosion damaged the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City.
PNP Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said the blast outside the House of Representatives was caused by a bomb, “but I can’t say what type of bomb.”
Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar’s chief of staff confirmed that the congressman died of severe injuries in the head and legs at the Far Eastern University Hospital.
The explosion just outside the Batasan complex also killed Marcial Tando, driver of Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, and Maan Abustanilo, a staff member of Oriental Negros Rep. Henry Teves.
Ilagan was wounded in the legs and back by shrapnel from the blast. Teves was in critical condition at St. Luke’s Medical Center after suffering blast injuries and severe burns.
Motorcycle
Ismael Lim, driver of Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, and Kim Ar, bodyguard of Akbar, were also injured.
The blast happened just minutes after the House of Representatives adjourned its session past 8 p.m.
Akbar, 47, a first-time congressman and a two-term Basilan governor, was the likely target, said National Capital Region Police Director Geary Barias.
A number of cars were damaged outside the south entrance to the building, where the blast hit 8:15 p.m. as the House ended its session and lawmakers and their staff were being picked up by their drivers.
Razon said a destroyed motorcycle was found and experts were conducting chemical tests on it to find out if it was used to carry the bomb.
Investigators suspect the bomb may have been placed on one of two parked motorcycles and then remotely detonated as Akbar approached his car, fatally wounding him and ripping the motorcycles apart, Barias said.
Kept in
Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) told Sun.Star Cebu that the explosion was so strong that he felt the vibration even when he was about 20 to 25 meters away.
Pablo John said he and his father Rep. Pablo Garcia (2nd district) just came from the session and were walking to their vehicles at the time.
Aside from the Garcias, Rep. Eduardo Gullas (1st district) and Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) were among the Cebuano congressmen in the Batasan complex in Quezon City.
As they were making their way to the main gate, Pablo John said he saw smoke and damaged cars from the south lobby.
“We couldn’t go out right away because the gates were blocked,” he said in a phone interview last night.
Pablo John said he received no advice yet if there will be sessions today although he and his father will still be going to the Batasan complex for the hearings of the justice committee on the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo.
In a separate interview, del Mar said he was with some legislators at the lounge having some drinks when they heard the explosion.
Sweep
“It was a regular working day, everything was normal until we heard that loud explosion and saw wounded people. There were more or less 10 of them,” he said, but added that the report was still sketchy.
“The President has ordered (PNP Director) Razon to personally lead the investigation,” said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, in a text message sent to the ABS-CBN News Channel.
The television’s footage showed Razon conferring with House Speaker Jose de Venecia as soon as the Speaker arrived back at the Batasan at 9:30 p.m.
“We will not allow this incident to interrupt our sessions and proceedings,” said Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez.
A “clean sweep” of the complex was ordered to make sure there were no explosives left, and sessions were expected to resume this afternoon if the police gave the all-clear.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this criminal, dastardly act of a terrorist, an anarchist,” de Venecia said at 9:50 p.m. He said he saw no connection between the explosion and the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo, but that this too will be part of the investigation.
De Venecia stressed: “We will not be frightened.”
Ex-MNLF
The blast occurred amid heightened political tensions in the country. President Arroyo is facing a third impeachment complaint in three years.
“We cannot rule out anything until the investigation is completed,” de Venecia said. “There are many threats to us personally and officially. We will have to decide whether we have to augment security.”
The capital has been jittery since last month, when an explosion damaged Glorietta 2 mall in the financial district, killing 11 people and injuring more than 100. A preliminary police report said it was an accident, although the owners of the mall disputed the finding.
The slain congressman, Akbar, was once a member of the Moro National Liberation Front, a Muslim rebel group that dropped its secessionist goal and signed a peace accord with the government in September 1996.
Some security officials have suspected that Akbar knew the leaders of the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim radical group that has its roots in Basilan Island. But they said he later had a falling out with Abu Sayyaf commanders and started fighting them.
Akbar also had political opponents, including those that ran against one of his wives who succeeded him as governor of Basilan. (AP/AFP/Sunnex)/With RCT, LCR)
