Batasang Pambansa bombing

Infobox terrorist attack
title = 2007 Batasang Pambansa bombing


caption =
location = Quezon City, Philippines
target = Batasang Pambansa
date = November 13 2007
time-begin = 8:15 p.m.
time-end =
timezone = Philippine Standard Time
type = Motorcycle bomb
fatalities = 6
injuries = 12
susperps =
perps = Abu Sayyaf

The Batasang Pambansa bombing occurred on the night of November 13, 2007, at the Batasang Pambansa (National Assembly) Complex in Quezon City, Philippines. The blast killed Congressman Wahab Akbar and Marcial Taldo, a staff member of Congresswoman Luzviminda Ilagan, and wounded Ilagan, Congressmen Pryde Henry Teves, and two others.

The explosion

The legislative session had just ended, and lawmakers were leaving the building when the blast occurred at 8:15 p.m. at the south wing of the building. Witnesses reported that "the ground shook and parts of the ceiling collapsed and chunks of the facade were dislodged." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7092600.stm Blast rocks Philippine congress] BBCNews.com] Marcial Taldo, driver of Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, died on the spot in Ilagan's car. [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=100760 (UPDATE 2) List of dead and injured in Congress blast - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos ] ] Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar, the apparent target of the blast, was rushed to the Far Eastern University hospital in Quezon City where he was later declared dead. Police believe the explosive device was planted in a nearby motorcycle. [http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/13/philippines.blast/index.html Lawmaker killed in Philippine parliament blast - CNN.com ] ]

Four other people were killed or later died from their injuries, and 12 were injured, including Ilagan and Congressmen Pryde Henry Teves of Negros Oriental. Both Congressman Teves' eardrums were severely damaged, apparently disabling his hearing. An earlier report stated that his leg would require amputation, but was later revoked upon the doctor's decision that medical intervention short of amputation could be implemented to rehabilitate the wounded legislator's leg.

Immediately after the blast, lawmakers were not allowed to leave the building. [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=100700 Speaker says House blast that killed driver a bomb] ]

Fatalities

*Congressman Wahab Akbar, Representative of the lone district of Basilan
*Junaskiri Hayudini, an aide of Rep. Akbar
*Marcial Taldo, a staff member of Congresswoman Luzviminda Ilagan of the GABRIELA party-list
*Maan Gale Bustalino, an aide of Rep. Pryde Henry Teves
*Dennis Manila, aide of Rep. Teves
*Vercita Garcia, staff member of Rep. Pryde Henry Teves died at 6:30 p.m. due to cardiac arrest at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon, City on December 17, 2007

Injuries

*Congressman Pryde Henry Teves, legislator for the 3rd district of Negros Oriental. On December 18, 2007, Teves was moved out of the intensive care unit of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City to a private room, and recuperated from fractured leg and sustained deep burns in his arms from the bombing. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/73834/Negros-Or-solon-recovers-from-injuries-after-Batasan-blast gmanews.tv/story, Negros Or solon recovers from injuries after Batasan blast] ] On January 31, 2008, Teves reported for work at the House of Representatives, against doctors' advises. Teves, still in a wheelchair, wore black cotton gloves to protect his burned hands, and could not shake hands or use his cellular phone. [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=107454 Abs-Cbn Interactive, Teves returns to work nearly 3 months after surviving Batasan blast] ]
*Congresswoman Luzviminda Ilagan, legislator for the GABRIELA Partylist.

Theories and Investigations

Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon was ordered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to personally supervise the investigation of the explosion.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said in an interview that they had raided a house not far from the Congress Building. The occupants of the house started to shoot at them; consequently, the police killed three persons who were later suspected to be members of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. The following was confiscated in the house: A dozen stickers bearing the logo of the Philippine Congress, a car plate with a number 8 (which is for Congressmen), an Identification Card from the House of Representatives, and the plate number which was suspected to have been removed from the motorcycle that was used to hide the bomb.

After the arrests of three suspected Abu Sayyaf members which led to subsequent interrogation by the police, the police cited "damning evidence" against the slain representative's political rivals, former Deputy House Speaker Gerry Salapuddin and Anak Mindanao Party-List Rep. Mujiv Hataman, citing the trail of events and mechanisms involved in the planning of the attack, and as such, charges would be filed by government prosecutors against them. [http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2007-11-29&sec=1&aid=40635 Blast Brains Charged] People's Journal] The two political figures appeared beforehand at the National Police headquarters to clear their names in their involvement in the attack. Such action by the government prosecutors will make Salapuddin and Hataman, together with the latter's brother Benajmin "Jim" Hataman, suspects/masterminds in the bombing.

Arrest

On December 14, 2007, in 2-page resolution, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a writ of habeas corpus on petition of suspects Caidar Aunal, Adham Kusain, and Ikram Indama. It required the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Capital Region-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (NCR-CIDU) and the PNP Custodial Center to file returns before Quezon City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Romeo Zamora on December 18. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/72885/SC-issues-writ-of-habeas-corpus-for-3-suspects-in-Batasan-blast GmaNews.tv,SC issues writ of habeas corpus for 3 suspects in Batasan blast] ]

On December 20, 2007, the criminal case Q-07-149982 filed against accused Caidar Aunal, Adham Kusain, and Ikram Indama was raffled to the sala of Regional Trial Court branch 83 Judge Ralph Lee after Branch 80 judge Charito Gonzales inhibited. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20071221-108267/Batasan_blast_case_now_in_court newsinfo.inquirer.net, Batasan blast case now in court] ] On January 29, 2008, Judge Ralph Lee granted the three accused's motion for preliminary investigation, ordered the DOJ to issue resolution within 20 days, and the arraignment was set on February 26. The Judge also directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to transfer all accused to the Quezon City Jail. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/78435/QC-judge-grants-motion-for-PI-in-Batasan-bombing GMA NEWS.TV, QC judge grants motion for PI in Batasan bombing] ] On April 28, 2008, Judge Lee issued the warrant and ordered the arrest of former Basilan Representative Gerry Salapuddin, Police Officer 1 Bayan Judda, Jaharun Jamiri and Benjamin Hataman, all indicted with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder cases before the court. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/92008/Batasan-blast-Ex-solon-3-others-ordered-arrested GMA NEWS.TV, Batasan blast: Ex-solon, 3 others ordered arrested] ]

Jamiri Hajirun y Usman, ex- mayor of Tuburan, Basilan was indicted for violation of Section 2 of Republic Act 8294 (Illegal possession of explosives) before Manila RTC, on May 15, 2008, and P200,000 bail was recommended for his release. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/95389/Batasan-blast-Ex-mayor-charged-for-possession-of-explosives GMA NEWS.TV, Batasan blast: Ex-mayor charged for possession of explosives] ]

References

External links

* [http://uw1.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=99380 Abs-Cbn, Batasan blast archives, photos and videos]