WHAT WENT BEFORE: 2007 Batasan bombing

On Nov. 13, 2007, a powerful explosion rocked the south wing parking lot of the Batasan complex in Quezon City, killing six people, including then Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar, and wounding several others.

Others killed in the blast were Akbar’s staff member Julasiri Hayudini; Marcial Taldo, a driver of then Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan;  Dennis Manila and Maan Gale Bustalino, staff members of then Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Henry Teves.

Teves was himself wounded, along with Ilagan and four others.

Another staff member of Teves, Vercita Garcia, died the following month due to multiple organ failure secondary to multiple blast injuries.

The blast occurred shortly after the plenary session was adjourned at 8 p.m. The explosion was shown to have been caused by a bomb planted on one of the motorcycles parked near the entrance of the Batasan south wing, and detonated by cell phone.

Two days after the bombing, police arrested three suspects — Ikram Indama, Caidar Aunal and Adham Kusain — in a raid in Payatas, Quezon City.

Three other suspects—Abu Jandal, Redwan Indama and his wife, Saing—were killed in a gun battle that erupted after lawmen tried to serve an arrest warrant on Jandal, an alleged Abu Sayyaf member wanted for kidnapping.

Among the items recovered in the Payatas raid were calling cards from the congressional office of former Basilan Rep. Gerry Salapuddin and an envelope with the letterhead of Salapuddin’s congressional

office.

Akbar succeeded Salapuddin as representative. But Salapuddin denied involvement in the explosion. He said that Indama was a former family driver, and admitted knowing Aunal, a former brother-in-law, and Kusain, a former student.

Multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges were filed against Indama, Aunal, Kusain and Jamiri. Salapuddin and former Anak Mindanao  Rep. Mujiv Hataman, known political rivals of Akbar, were among those accused of masterminding the Batasan bombing.

In October 2011, Hataman was cleared of charges when the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the criminal case filed against him for his alleged role in the bombing. In March 2013, the Supreme Court upheld the DOJ’s decision to exclude Salapuddin from among those indicted in connection with the bombing. —INQUIRER RESEARCH

Source: Inquirer Archives