Thursday, November 15, 2007 (Philippines)

Sympathizers of Rep. Wahab Akbar lift his coffin at the funeral of the Batasan bombing victim in Isabela, capital of the province of Basilan. Akbar was one of the four people who were killed in Tuesday night’s attack. He had become the central figure in police investigation with the theory that revenge against him prompted the explosion. (AP photo) MANILA - A congressman killed in a bombing outside the Batasan Pambansa complex was with al-Qaida-linked militants and then switched sides to support an offensive against them—but it was not clear if the blast was revenge for that betrayal, officials said. Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar died of wounds shortly after the blast Tuesday night and one of his aides, Julasiri Hayudini, succumbed in a hospital yesterday, said Noel Albano, spokesman for House Speaker Jose de Venecia. Also killed were Marcial Taldo, a driver of Gabriela party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan, and Maan Gale Bustaliño, a legislative staffer of Oriental Negros Pryde Henry Teves. [full story]