Wahab Akbar

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Wahab Akbar (April 16, 1960 – November 13, 2007) was a Filipino politician who served three terms as governor of Basilan. Later elected as congressman for the lone district of Basilan in the House of Representatives, Akbar was one of 5 people killed in a bomb attack at the Batasang Pambansa which police publicly suspected was directed at him.[1]

Contents

[edit] Life

Wahab Akbar was born in Lantawan, Basilan where his father, Hadji Mohtamad Salajin, served as the town's first mayor.[2] He studied agriculture at Gregorio Araneta University (now De La Salle Araneta University)[2], but did not finish.[3] A member of the Liberal Party, Akbar was first elected governor of Basilan in the 1998 elections. He was reelected in 2001 and 2004.

Akbar was constitutionally barred from seeking a fourth consecutive term as governor. Instead, he successfully sought election to the Congress, representing the lone district of his home province. One of his wives won the election to succeed him as governor.[4] Another of his wives is mayor of the provincial capital, Isabela City; A third wife ran, and lost, the race to be mayor of another city in Basilan.[4]

He was strongly suspected of having ties with the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic extremist group linked to Al Qaeda, with some reports even claiming that he was a founding member and a commander until a falling-out with the group.[4]

[edit] Death

Main article: 2007 Batasang Pambansa bombing

On November 13, 2007, Akbar died at the Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Medical Center[5] [6] from injuries sustained following an explosion at the House of Representatives in the Batasang Pambansa complex.[7] The blast also immediately killed the driver of another legislator.[7] Three other congressional staff members would die from blast injuries, including one of Akbar's own aides.

According to National Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Geary Barias, Akbar could have been the target of the bombing, since his vehicle bore the brunt of the damage.[8]

The next day, his body was brought to Basilan for his burial. Many people were saddened because of his death. He was buried in front of his mansion which is still under construction.

[edit] Writ of Habeas Corpus

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.[9]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Papa, Alcuin; De la Cruz, Arlyn (2007-11-15). PNP: Akbar was target. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved on 2007-11-15.
  2. ^ a b Wahab Akbar profile. GMA News Online. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  3. ^ Wahab Akbar: The Terror of Basilan. GMA News Online. Retrieved on 2007-11-15.
  4. ^ a b c Addison, Adrian (2007-11-14). Manila Bomb: Terror or Vendetta. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-11-15.
  5. ^ Akbar dies, Teves in critical condition. ABS-CBN News Online. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  6. ^ Basilan’s Akbar, 1 more killed in House bombing. Philippine Daily Inquirer Online. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  7. ^ a b Conde, Carlos H. (2007-11-14). 2 Dead in Blast at Philippine Congress. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
  8. ^ Akbar likely target of Batasan blast - NCRPO chief. GMANews.tv. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  9. ^ GmaNews.tv,SC issues writ of habeas corpus for 3 suspects in Batasan blast
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