ISABELA CITY, Basilan—The widows of Basilan congressman Wahab Akbar, suspected to have been assasinated by a political rival, have expressed deep worry the trial of already-known suspects may be derailed or diluted by political influence. They are thus calling for a speedy trial.

The multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder cases arising from last year’s Batasan Pambansa Complex bombing that killed five people including the congressman was filed February 28 at the Regional Trial Court Branch 83 in Quezon City.

In calling for a speedy trial, Gov. Jum Akbar of Basilan, one of the widows; and another Akbar widow, Isabela City Mayor Cherrylyn, were, however, surprised why Anak Mindanao Party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman and his brother, Jim, were not included.

Jim ran for congressman but lost in last year’s local and national elections against the late Akbar for the lone congressional district of the province.

The governor said their lawyers are now working to have the two Hatamans (Mujiv and Jim), who have denounced attempts to link them to the attack, included in the criminal cases.

Those charged include former Basilan congressman and Deputy House Speaker for Mindanao Gerry Salapuddin, former Tuburan mayor Hajarun Jamiri, PO1 Bayan Judda and Benjamin Hataman, a cousin of Mujiv Hataman.

Salapuddin, through his legal counsels, has filed an omnibus motion seeking for the judicial determination of probable cause. He said in an e-mailed statement to reporters that his motion also includes a prayer for dismissal because the information is defective and has many loopholes.

The court set the hearing on Salapuddin’s motion on March 14.

Congressman Hataman found it “very unfair his name and that of his brother are continuously dragged into” the case, describing it as “politically motivated [and] aimed to discredit him.”

Hataman said he and his brother had already been exonerated since the justice department had found no probable cause against him and his brother.

Provincial bus operators to join strike; government fielding free transport

MALACAÑANG assured the public on Sunday that the government is preparing measures to ease the impact of Tuesday’s planned transport strike even as provincial bus operators declared they will also join the metrowide action planned by the United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak).

MEMBERS of the Senate foreign relations committee will be asked to concur in or reject a full committee report recommending conditional concurrence with the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa).

THE House leadership has endorsed the proposed P3-billion special fund to relocate 126,230 families living in almost subhuman conditions along esteros, dump sites and other danger zones in Metro Manila.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—Dubbed the “Strawberry Capital,” this premier producer of strawberries is the best place to hold a festival that brings together thousands of visitors and residents to enjoy activities and entertainment,

CEBU’S suspected extensive and syndicated “escort services”—getting people, mostly workers, to get through airport processing easily—may be in for another drubbing from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) because Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan has sent a team to look into the situation at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

THE government has opposed a motion filed by former Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo seeking the reduction of the P40,000 bail set by the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan in an arbitrary, detention case filed against her by the Office of the Ombudsman.

ISABELA CITY, Basilan—The widows of Basilan congressman Wahab Akbar, suspected to have been assasinated by a political rival, have expressed deep worry the trial of already-known suspects may be derailed or diluted by political influence. They are thus calling for a speedy trial.