Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Court orders arrest of ex-lawmaker, 3 others
THE Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday ordered the arrest of former Basilan congressman Gerry Salapuddin and three other politicians from the province in connection with the Batasan bombing on November 13, 2007.
The bombing resulted in the death of three persons, including Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar, and wounding of 10 others.
Quezon City RTC-Branch 83 Judge Ralph Lee said the court has found probable cause to issue warrants of arrest against Salapuddin, Benjamin Hataman alias Jang, former Basilan town mayor Hajaron Jamiri, and policeman Bayan Judd for multiple murder and attempted murder charges.
Lee set the arraignment of the accused on April 30 at 8:30 a.m. No bail was recommended for the four.
The judge delayed the issuance of arrest warrants against the accused after Salapuddin filed a petition for review before the Department of Justice (DOJ) asking for the reversal of its earlier recommendation to charge them.
The charges were based on the statements of the arrested suspects, namely, Caidar Aunal, Adham Kusain and Ikram Indama, driver of Salapuddin, who admitted to the crime and tagged the former congressman as the mastermind behind the blast. (JLCP/JLK-UST intern/Sunnex)
