House justice panel offers minute of silence for Akbar

The House justice committee offered a minute of silence for Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar, who died in a powerful blast at the entrance of the Batasan Pambansa south wing on Tuesday night. In the wake of the deadly blast, the committee will continue to hear Wednesday the impeachment complaint lodged by lawyer Roberto Rafael "Roel" Pulido against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Before the opening of the hearing, panel members were talking amongst themselves about the demise of Akbar. Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, committee chair, said the discussion of important matters regarding the impeachment must push through despite the explosion. Members of the minority were frustrated in their bid last Monday to attach a supplemental complaint to Pulido's bid. Two others died in the Tuesday night blast, while at least 11 other casualties were recorded, according to figures released by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) as of 6 a.m. Wednesday. House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr said the chamber will hold its regular session in the afternoon to send a message to the ones responsible for the explosion. "I will call a meeting of the senior leaders of the House of Representatives and a meeting with the acting secretary general and we will call a regular session this afternoon to show we're back to normal, to show di kami natatakot (we are not scared), and thirdly to show we cannot be terrorized," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. - GMANews.TV