DOJ orders swift resolution of petition vs Hataman in Batasan blast

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has called for the speedy resolution of a pending request to re-instate former party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman as an accused in the November 2007 Batasan bombing that killed six people, including then-Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar. De Lima made the statement Wednesday amid persistent reports that Hataman is among those being eyed by President Benigno Aquino III to become the governor-in-charge in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao until 2013. "I directed immediate resolution so as to settle the matter once and for all," De Lima told reporters in Manila. Even before the law postponing the ARMM polls was upheld by the Supreme Court, reports as early as June were already swirling that President Aquino — in a meeting on May 30 — endorsed Hataman as the OIC governor. The Palace, however, quickly denied the reports. On Tuesday, the high court upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 10153 or the law postponing this year's ARMM polls and synchronizing it with the midterm elections in 2013. The law also authorizes the President to appoint 26 officers-in-charge who will govern the region until the 2013 polls. Batasan blast Hataman was implicated in the late-night explosion at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City that killed five people and wounded 12 others. However, the multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against Hataman and co-respondents Hadjiman Hataman Salliman and Julham Kunam were dismissed in a Feb. 22, 2008 resolution and a April 2, 2008 resolution due to insufficient evidence. Last month, relatives of the bombing victims went to the DOJ to file a petition for review, in hopes that the agency would issue a new resolution finding probable cause to indict the three. On Wednesday, De Lima said the victims' relatives' petition for review was already up for resolution. Asked if the pending petition would trim down Hataman's chances of being selected as OIC governor of ARMM, De Lima said: "I don't think so since the results of the preliminary investigation, there's no probable cause agianst him." "But, of course, that is yet subject to the outcome of the petition for review. That's why I want it immediately resolved... to settle the matter once and for all," she quickly added. Applicants Hataman is among more than 50 applicants aspiring to become temporary ARMM governor. Another aspirant is Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, who later backed out of the race after learning that he will have to abandon his Maguindanao gubernatorial post if ever he assumes as ARMM governor. Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo earlier revealed that the committee tasked to screen applicants for the 26 OIC posts for governor, vice governor, and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly has already come up with a shortlist of the nominees they were recommending to Congress. Robredo said three nominees were shortlisted for governor, three for vice governor, and nine names were shortlisted for the RLA posts in each ARMM district. He refused to divulge their names. — RSJ, GMA News