Rep. Wahab Akbar dies in hospital after Batasan blast
11/13/2007 | 10:27 PM
First-term Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar died after sustaining severe injuries from an explosion that rocked the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City at past 8 p.m.Tuesday. He was 47 years old.
Akbar was the second fatality in the bloody explosion that also hurt at least nine other persons including Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan and Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Henry Teves. The first fatality was identified as Marcial Tandoc, driver of Ilagan.
The congressman was taken to the Far Eastern University-NRMF Medical Center in West Fairview, Quezon City, after sustaining complete fracture on his right leg. Radio dzBB said Akbar's chief of staff confirmed the congressman's death. He died at about 10:25 p.m. Akbar will be flown to Basilan Wednesday morning, and will be buried within 24 hours in accordance with Islam traditions.
The report said Sandra Cam was talking to Akbar on the phone minutes before the blast. Cam told dzBB that Akbar was on his way out of the House, and was supposed to board his car when the explosion took place.
Akbar was born on April 16, 1960 in Lantawan, Basilan. A native of the province, he was elected governor in 1998 and was reelected to the same position in 2001.
Jesus Dureza, government peace adviser, expressed his sadness over the death of Akbar in the blast, which he called an "act of terrorism."
"I grieve for the loss of a friend and a leader. A life taken by an act of madness must be condemned and hope it will wake up some people to come together against those who don't go for normal procedures," Dureza said in a text message. - GMANews.TV
Akbar was the second fatality in the bloody explosion that also hurt at least nine other persons including Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan and Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Henry Teves. The first fatality was identified as Marcial Tandoc, driver of Ilagan.
The congressman was taken to the Far Eastern University-NRMF Medical Center in West Fairview, Quezon City, after sustaining complete fracture on his right leg. Radio dzBB said Akbar's chief of staff confirmed the congressman's death. He died at about 10:25 p.m. Akbar will be flown to Basilan Wednesday morning, and will be buried within 24 hours in accordance with Islam traditions.
The report said Sandra Cam was talking to Akbar on the phone minutes before the blast. Cam told dzBB that Akbar was on his way out of the House, and was supposed to board his car when the explosion took place.
Akbar was born on April 16, 1960 in Lantawan, Basilan. A native of the province, he was elected governor in 1998 and was reelected to the same position in 2001.
Jesus Dureza, government peace adviser, expressed his sadness over the death of Akbar in the blast, which he called an "act of terrorism."
"I grieve for the loss of a friend and a leader. A life taken by an act of madness must be condemned and hope it will wake up some people to come together against those who don't go for normal procedures," Dureza said in a text message. - GMANews.TV
