Bomb Rattles Philippines Congress, Kills 3

One lawmaker, a former rebel, dies after blast near House entrance
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 13, 2007 7:21 AM CST
Bomb Rattles Philippines Congress, Kills 3
The body of one of the victims of an explosion remains covered inside a van at one of the entrances to the Philippine House of Representatives in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila late Tuesday Nov. 13, 2007 as police and forensic offers work at the scene. (AP Photo/Perfecto Camero)   (Associated Press)

A car bomb outside the Philippines House of Representatives killed three people, including one lawmaker, the AP reports. The blast killed Wahab Akbar, a congressman and former Muslim rebel. He formerly served as governor of the southern province of Basilia and helped  fight terrorists there linked to al Qaeda, the AP says. Police cautioned against calling this a terrorist attack.

"I heard it and I felt the blast although I was on the other side of the building," one lawmaker said. "The ceiling of the canopy near the south wing entrance came down." President President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo urged people to avoid speculation about the motives of the blast until the investigation is complete. (More Philippines stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X