Wahab Akbar Assassination

Hereunder is the latest update on the Bombing Incident at the Philippines’ House of Representatives Bombing Incident.

(Note: This Update News was taken from The Phil Daily Inquirer Internet News dated 22 November 2007) 

PNP: Ex-mayor admits role in plot to kill Akbar November 22, 2007 03:15:00   Alcuin Papa Inquirer MANILA, Philippines — A former mayor has confessed participation in a plot to assassinate Rep. Wahab Akbar at the Sulô Hotel, but police are still trying to determine if he was directly involved in the Nov. 13 bombing at the Batasan complex that killed the Basilan congressman.
Director Geary Barias of the National Capital Region Police Office said former Mayor Hajarun Jamiri of Tuburan, Basilan, had told investigators he helped plan a bomb attack to kill Akbar on Oct. 23 at the hotel in Quezon City.“Akbar did not show up at the hotel, so the plan of assassinating him did not materialize,” Barias said.Jamiri, who helped the military negotiate the release of kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in June, is a known enemy of Akbar, a former Abu Sayyaf member who later helped in the US-backed anti-terror campaign against the terrorist group.A motorcycle that was to be used in the Sulô Hotel plot was taken by Jamiri near Pepe’s Inn in San Andres and the bomb it was loaded with was taken to a house on Avella Street near Leveriza Street in Malate, said Supt. Joaquin Alva of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).Akbar, 47, and three others were killed in the Batasan bombing, whose mastermind remained unknown. Twelve others were wounded, including two congressmen.Three suspects — Caidar Aunal, 41, Ikram Indama, 35, and Adham Kusain, 21, were arrested following a gun battle in Payatas, Quezon City, on Nov. 15.The three were named in a murder complaint filed by police in the Department of Justice. They have confessed participation in the Batasan bombing and said their target was Akbar, according to police.

At least 2 plotsThree suspected Abu Sayyaf members — Abu Jandal, Redwan Indama and his wife Saing — were killed in the Payatas encounter that broke out when police attempted to serve an arrest warrant for kidnapping on Jandal.Revelations of the detained suspects have uncovered several plots to kill Akbar, including an attack on his house at Valle Verde subdivision in Pasig City and the Sulô Hotel attempt.On Monday, police raided Pepe’s Inn and arrested Jamiri and his aide, Halik Usman. Traces of nitrates, an ingredient of explosives, were found in Jamiri’s room, on his clothes and on the motorcycle that was to be used in the Sulô Hotel plot.Usman was later released but Jamiri was detained for carrying an unlicensed .45-cal. pistol.On Tuesday night, Jamiri led police to the house on Avella, where a bomb was found in a hole filled with water. It was later defused.Alva said that based on the statements given by the three detained suspects, Redwan Indama and Jandal were directing and leading the operation against Akbar.Redwan Indama was said to have given instructions to Jamiri and the others on how to put the bombs together.

Bomb componentsJamiri was said to have been offered P500,000, but police have yet to determine if the amount was for killing Akbar or for hiding the bomb.Barias said police were still zeroing in on the mastermind of the Batasan bombing.“We are very optimistic that we’ll find out the truth regarding this blast in Batasan sooner or later. The mastermind will be revealed in due time,” he said.A police officer, who declined to be named because he had no authority to speak on the case, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that while Jamiri was part of the plot to kill Akbar he might have been “compartmentalized” from the Nov. 13 operation on the Batasan.Chief Insp. Ramon Pranada of the Manila police explosives and ordnance division said the bomb found Tuesday night was rigged inside a tin can sealed with epoxy.Pranada also said investigators had found a brownish powder which they assumed to be TNT, a booster charge made of RDX, two improvised blasting caps and nails as shrapnel.He said that when the bomb was discovered, it was already rigged and ready to explode. “All that was needed was a switch from a cell phone or a remote control for the bomb to go off.”

Motorcycle modified Pranada also said the compartment of the motorcycle was “modified” so the bomb could fit.Pranada showed reporters the compartment where a portion was sawed to make way for the bomb.All in all, the bomb weighed around three kilos. “We will expect the same damage caused in the Batasan blast,” Pranada said.He said police were still trying to determine the “signature” of the bomb, or the way the bomb was put together, to determine its maker. But Pranada said there were similarities with the Batasan bomb in that it was rigged for a remote detonation.Both Barias and Alva said the investigation had yet to reveal if Jamiri was a member of the Abu Sayyaf or any other terrorist group.They also said police were still studying the possibility of filing charges against a certain Wilson Asanin, believed to be the owner of the house on Avella Street.