Ustadz Wahab M. Akbar (April 16, 1960 – November 13, 2007) was a Filipino politician who served three terms as governor of Basilan, during which time he was known for his "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" policy for dealing with kidnappers and terrorists in the province.[1] He was later elected as congressman for the lone district of Basilan in the House of Representatives, but was one of 4 people killed in a bomb attack at the Batasang Pambansa. Police publicly suspected the attack was directed at him by political opponents.[2]
Life
Wahab Akbar was born in Lantawan, Basilan where his father, Hadji Mohtamad Salajin, served as the town's first mayor.[3] At age 11 Akbar joined his father to fight in the mountains, but after three years Salajin was persuaded to join the government and was appointed mayor of Lantawan by President Ferdinand Marcos.
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.[5] 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.[5]
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.[5]
Personal life
He was married to first wife Jum Jainnudin, second wife Cherry Lyn Santos, third wife Nur-in Akbar, fourth wife Marietta Zamoranos, and fifth wife who is a Syrian.
According to National Capital RegionPolice Office chief, Director Geary Barias, Akbar could have been the target of the bombing, since his vehicle bore the brunt of the damage.[9]
The next day, his body was brought to Basilan via Zamboanga City. His body was brought to the respective houses of his first two wives before being buried in front of his mansion in Barangay Sumagdang, Isabela which was then under construction.[10]
Writ of Habeas Corpus
On December 14, 2007, in two-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.[11] However, the family suspected that the head of the killing was close ally of Senator and future President Benigno Aquino III and Anak Mindanao Representative Mujiv Hataman.
Notes
^600 Armed Civilians Circle Abductors Lair. Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 7, 2009.
^Papa, Alcuin; De la Cruz, Arlyn (November 15, 2007). "PNP: Akbar was target". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
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