Filipina Soul

One month after a blast in Glorietta mall, Manila has had to contend with another deadly explosion. The Philippine House of Representatives was the target of an explosion that House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. called “an act of terrorism”.

The blast occurred slightly after 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, at the south lobby of the main building of the House of Representatives in Manila.

The police characterized the bombing as a “coordinated attack” and said that the bomb might have been remotely detonated, according to Geary Barias, the police chief of the Philippine capital of Manila.

Killed were Basilan Representative Congressman Wahab Akbar, Maan Gale Bustalino, and Marcial Calvo. According to reports, nine other people were wounded. IsulongSeoph.org lists seven of the injured as follows:

1. Gabriela party-list Representative Luzviminda Ilagan
2. Negros Oriental Representative Pryde Henry Teves
3. Nulasiri Hayugini
4. Ver Garcia
5. Ismael Lim
6. Kim Harhan Indanan
7. Denis Manila

Initial statements from the police indicate that Congressman Akbar was the target of the bombing. Two men in a motorcycle were seen leaving the area just minutes before the explosion.

via IHT and Inquirer; image via National Post

Tags: Philippine Congress explosion, Philippine House of Representatives

Comments Off