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Thursday, November 15, 2007
Akbar laid to rest near his home in Basilan
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The late Basilan congressman Wahab Akbar was buried Wednesday at his home province, following the Islam tradition that mandates the burial of the dead within 24 hours after death.
Akbar died around 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday from shrapnel wounds he suffered in a bomb explosion that ripped through the south wing of the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City at 8:07 p.m.
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Three others also died during the incident: Akbar's aide Hayudini Julasiri, Gabriela party-list Congresswoman Luz Ilagan's driver Marcial Tandoc, and Negros Oriental Representative Henry Teves's employee Maan Abustanillo.
Teves and Ilagan and seven others were also wounded in the bomb explosion.
Akbar's body was flown aboard a commercial plane Wednesday morning from Manila to Zamboanga City. Also in that flight was Isabela City Mayor Cherrylyn, his second wife.
Basilan Governor Jum Akbar, the slain congressman's first wife, and Nur-in, the third wife, met them at the Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA).
The three embraced each other and cried as they watched Akbar's body being brought down from the plane that landed in Zamboanga City shortly before 7 a.m.
The group, aboard a convoy of vehicles, rushed to the port and boarded the first trip of a ferry for Isabela City that arrived there shortly before 8 a.m.
From there, the congressman's remains were brought to Barangay Sunrise, where he and the mayor had lived.
Later on, his remains were transferred to Barangay Sumagdang, also in Isabela City, where the late congressman and his first wife stayed.
Local officials and thousands of supporters were gathered at the port of Isabela City when the Akbars arrived.
Akbar was buried shortly after the noontime prayer at the back of his residence in Barangay Sumagdang.
Ungkaya Pukan Mayor Joel Maturan said it was the decision of the three wives to have him buried there so they could have someone watch his grave.
Mayor Akbar said the last request of the late congressman is for them to push forward the economic development of the province. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (November 15, 2007 issue)
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