November 13, 2007
Terror in Philippines: Congress Bombed, Muslim Congressman Killed (UPDATED)
No official suspects now, but given that the Philippines has been engaged in a civil war against Islamists wishing to break away from the democratic republic and set up a sharia state in the South, I'd say that it's pretty clear who the likeliest candidates are.
AP:
A bomb exploded at an entrance of the Philippine House of Representatives late Tuesday, killing a congressman and a driver. Police and soldiers in the capital went on high alert after the explosion, which injured nine people.The name of the dead Congressman is Wahab Akbar. Another Muslim victim of Islamist terrorism.
Kyodo news agency adds that at least 11 others were injured.
UPDATE: Mike Pechar and I posted at the same time, so I'm merging the two posts into one. From Mike Pechar:
House Speaker Jose de Venecia said the blast was likely terrorists who wanted to threaten Congress. National Capital Regional Police chief Geary Barias said it's too early in the investigation to know the specific origin of the explosion. The bomb is believed to have detonated in a parking area outside the building's south wing.
A driver for Congresswoman Luz Ilagan, Melchor Talbo, was confirmed killed.
Metro Manila is now on full red alert.
National Capital Regional Police chief Geary Barias has ordered check points around the metropolis while the police are coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.Meanwhile, President Arroyo ordered PNP Chief Avelino Ravon to personally supervise the investigation.
From ABS-CBN:
Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar passed away following the blast that took place at the Batasan Pambansa Complex Tuesday night in Quezon City.An aide for the Philippine Broadcasting System, Larry Noda, 34, is stable with burns to his head and face.Negros Oriental Rep. Henry Teves, meanwhile, is in critical condition after sustaining severe blast injuries and burns following the explosion.
Those who were rushed to General Malvar Hospital on Commonwealth Avenue were identified as Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, who sustained shrapnel wounds to the legs and back; Ismael Lim, driver of Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza; Kim Ar, bodyguard of Akbar and Maan Abustanilo, a staff of Teves.
UPDATE: Here's a pic of Akbar.
UPDATE: Via LGF, it looks like Akbar was the target of the attack. He had been an Islamist rebel, but was party to a peace agreement with the government. AP:
Rep. Wahab Akbar’s chief of staff said the congressman, a former member of a Muslim rebel group that signed a peace accord with the government in 1996, died at the hospital. Metropolitan Manila police chief Geary Barias said a lawmaker’s driver also was killed in the explosion, which went off as the House ended its session.....There's only one thing Muslim fundamentalists hate more than infidels: traitors to the cause.“It looks like Congressman Akbar was the target,” Barias said. Police and soldiers in the capital went on high alert.
Akbar, a former governor of southern Basilan province, had been targeted by the Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremist group in the past for launching offensives against them.
