Solons condole with passing of Basilan Rep. Akbar

House of Representatives. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Monday expressed condolences to the family of Basilan congresswoman Jum Akbar, who passed away last Friday.

PBA Rep. Jericho Nograles expressed the party-list bloc’s condolences during the “Ugnayan sa Batasan” press briefing by the lawmakers from the majority bloc.

READ: Kongresista sa Basilan, pumanaw matapos atakihin sa puso 

“We grieve and mourn the loss of our colleague. The party-list coalition would like to express our sincerest condolences to the family and constituents of the congresswoman Jum Akbar,” Nograles said.

Akbar succumbed to cardiac arrest while undergoing a procedure at the hospital, Nograles said.

Congresswoman Akbar is the wife of the late Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar, who was killed in a bomb attack in the House of Representatives in 2007.

Congresswoman Akbar was in her first term in Congress after serving three terms as Basilan’s first female governor.

In 2011, Akbar’s brother and sister-in-law were shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in front of Basilan State College in Barangay (village) Sumagdang, Isabela City, Basilan.

READ: Brother and sister-in-law of Basilan Gov. Akbar shot dead

Akbar is the second lawmaker from Mindanao to pass away this year.

Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong died due to liver cirrhosis last July.

Nograles said Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez would take care of Akbar’s district until the latter appoints a caretaker. RAM/rga