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A powerful blast rocked the south wing of the House of
Representatives in Quezon City just before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday,
killing two and injuring at least 12 others, authorities said.
Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar was killed, according
to Agence France-Presse and the TV network ABS-CBN. Other reports
said Marcial Talbo, the driver of Gabriela party-list Rep.
Luzviminda Ilagan, was also killed.
As of press time, reports said Rep. Pryde Henry
Teves of Negros Oriental was critically injured. ANC video footage
aired about 10:30 p.m. showed doctors trying to revive him using
CPR.
At the time of the explosion, Congress had just
adjourned 20 to 30 minutes earlier. Fewer than 50 lawmakers were in
the building when the blast occurred, said party-list Rep. Joel
Villanueva of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC).
Congressmen were rushing deliberations on the cheaper medicines
bill.
There was some confusion about the number of
injured, which ranged from six to at least 12.
The injured were initially taken to General
Miguel Malvar Hospital, FEU Hospital and New Era Hospital—all in
Quezon City.
Reports also have it that Ilagan’s driver and
two staff members of Teves also were gravely injured, with their
clothes burned. Their identities were not immediately known at press
time.
Police are investigating a totaled motorcycle at
the parking lot that authorities suspect carried the explosive.
Witnesses reported they saw Teves’ lower legs
were badly injured from the blast. He was taken to New Era Hospital,
where the witnesses said he is being treated for injuries to his
lower body, arms and face. He was later transferred to St. Luke’s
Medical Center, also in Quezon City.
Ilagan was also seen badly injured in the lower
part of her legs, said witnesses who saw her being taken to
hospital.
Villanueva said he heard a “very loud
explosion” at least 20 minutes after the session adjourned. He
said he saw at least four people being taken to the building’s
clinic.
Right after the blast, House Speaker Jose de
Venecia Jr. rushed to the Batasan complex, where he “condemned in
strongest terms” the people behind the incident. He said he
believes the incident was not related to the ongoing impeachment
proceedings against President Gloria Arroyo.
Police and security personnel immediately
cordoned off the area and prevented people who were not injured from
leaving the Batasan grounds.
Troops went on heightened alert and security
forces set up checkpoints around Manila as President Arroyo quickly
ordered a national police probe into the blast at the sprawling
complex north of the capital.
--The Manila Times with AFP
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