|
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Congressman, 2 others killed in Batasan blast
MANILA -- Representative Wahab Akbar of Basilan and two others were killed while 11 others were injured when a bomb exploded at the south wing entrance of the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Ben Hassan, Akbar's chief of staff, said Tuesday night that Akbar died at past 10 p.m. while undergoing treatment at Far Eastern University hospital. His body will be flown to Basilan on Wednesday morning.
Malacanang's pardon order
Post comments here on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's grant of pardon to former President Joseph Estrada.
House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. condemned in the strongest possible terms the explosion that killed Akbar, Marcial Tandoc--the driver of Representative Luzviminda Ilagan, and Maan Abustanilo, one of the staff of Representative Henry Pryde Teves.
Ilagan's driver, who was retrieved under the congresswoman's vehicle, died soon after the blast while Abustanilo died at the Capitol Medical Center close to midnight Tuesday, said Representative Janette Garin of Iloilo.
Abustanilo was being transferred to St. Luke's Hospital from General Malvar Hospital but on the way there, her vitals dropped forcing them to make a detour to the Capitol Medical Center. Garin said doctors there worked on Abustanilo for 30 minutes but could not revive her.
Teves of Negros Oriental and Ilagan of the party-list group Gabriela were also injured in the blast that occurred shortly after the House session ended.
De Venecia said there was no question that the explosion at the Batasan complex in Quezon City was the work of "terrorists, anarchists, or extremists."
He added that he believes the blast was meant to threaten or frighten the congressmen but ruled out any link to the ongoing impeachment proceedings against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the House of Representatives.
Arroyo on Tuesday night directed National Police Chief Avelino Razon Jr. to lead the investigation into the explosion and to provide her with regular updates.
She said she has convened the National Security Council and ordered police to institute immediate measures to maintain security.
Razon placed Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Tagalog on heightened alert immediately after the explosion Tuesday.
He said the police are doing their best to secure vital installations and urged the public to stay calm.
"At this point in time I'm saying it's a bomb, but I can't say what type of bomb," he added.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Geary Barias said initial investigation showed that Akbar appeared to be target of the bomb but added they are not ruling out other angles.
A television report earlier said Akbar was talking on his mobile phone and was at the last step of the stairs of the south wing entrance when the explosion occurred.
Akbar's driver said he bringing the vehicle to where the congressman stood and was about four meters away at the time of the blast.
Police said they believed the bomb was placed either on a motorcycle or on Akbar's vehicle but the testimony of the congressman's driver refuted the latter possibility.
Congressman Teves was seriously injured in the explosion, sustaining burns on his face and a fracture on his left ankle.
Doctors had considered amputating Teves's left leg because a fracture in his ankle had stopped the flow of blood there but said later the operation was no longer needed. Teves was transferred to St. Luke's Hospital from New Era Hospital where he was first brought.
Ilagan sustained wounds on her leg and had shrapnel embedded on her back but was in stable condition.
Reacting to the death of Akbar, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said he grieves for the "loss of a friend and a leader."
"A life taken by an act of madness must be condemned and I hope it will wake up some people to come together against people who don't go for normal procedure. It's an act of terrorism," he added. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (November 14, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
