The 2007 Batasang Pambansa bombing occurred on the night of November 13, 2007, at the

Batasang Pambansa Complex The Batasang Pambansa Complex, or simply the Batasan (), is the seat of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. It is located along the Batasan Road in Batasan Hills, Quezon City. The complex was initially the home of the Batasang Pa ...

(National Assembly Complex) in

Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 2,960,048 people. It was fou ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. The blast killed Congressman

Wahab Akbar Ustadz Wahab M. Akbar (April 16, 1960 – November 13, 2007) was a Filipino politician who served three terms as governor of Basilan, during which time he was known for his "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" policy for dealing with kidnappers ...

and Marcial Taldo, a staff member of Congresswoman Luzviminda Ilagan, and wounded Ilagan, Congressman

Pryde Henry Teves Pryde Henry A. Teves (born December 18, 1972) is a Filipino politician who was the governor of Negros Oriental in 2022. Prior to this, he was also the mayor of Bayawan, Negros Oriental and a member of the House of Representatives of the Philipp ...

, and two others.

Explosion

The legislative session had just ended, and lawmakers were leaving the building when the blast occurred at 8:15 p.m. at the south wing of the building. Witnesses reported that "the ground shook and parts of the ceiling collapsed and chunks of the facade were dislodged."Blast rocks Philippine congress
BBCNews.com Marcial Taldo, driver of

Gabriela Gabriela may refer to: * Gabriela (given name), a Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian feminine given name * ''Gabriela'' (1942 film), a Czech film * ''Gabriela'' (1950 film), a German film * ''Gabriela'' (1983 film), a Brazilian film * ''Gabriela' ...

party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, died on the spot in Ilagan's car.(UPDATE 2) List of dead and injured in Congress blast – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
Basilan Representative

, the apparent target of the blast, was rushed to the Far Eastern University hospital in

where he was later declared dead. Police believe the explosive device was planted in a nearby

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

.Lawmaker killed in Philippine parliament blast – CNN.com
/ref> Four other people were killed or later died from their injuries, and 12 were injured, including Ilagan and Congressman

Negros Oriental Negros Oriental ( ceb, Sidlakang Negros; tl, Silangang Negros), officially the Province of Negros Oriental, is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Dumaguete. It occupies the southeaste ...

. Both Congressman Teves' eardrums were severely damaged, apparently disabling his hearing. An earlier report stated that his leg would require amputation, but was later revoked upon the doctor's decision that medical intervention short of amputation could be implemented to rehabilitate the wounded legislator's leg. Immediately after the blast, lawmakers were not allowed to leave the building.

Casualties

Fatalities

*Congressman

, Representative of the

lone district Lone may refer to: People * Lone (given name), a given name (including a list of people with this name) *Lone (musician), Matt Cutler, an electronic musician from Nottingham, United Kingdom *Lone (surname), a surname (including a list of people w ...

Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan ( cbk, Provincia de Basilan; yka, Wilayah Basilanin; tsg, Wilaya' sin Basilan; fil, Lalawigan ng Basilan), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Reg ...

*Junaskiri Hayudini, an aide of Rep. Akbar *Marcial Taldo, a staff member of Congresswoman Luzviminda Ilagan of the

GABRIELA Women's Party The Gabriela Women's Party (General Assembly Binding Women for Integrity, Reform, Equality, Leadership and Action) or simply GABRIELA, is a progressive Filipino political party that advocates for women's issues and represents Filipino women in th ...

party-list An electoral list is a grouping of candidates for election, usually found in proportional or mixed electoral systems, but also in some plurality electoral systems. An electoral list can be registered by a political party (a party list) or can ...

*Maan Gale Bustaliño, the Chief of Staff of Rep.

*Dennis Manila, aide of Rep. Teves *Vercita Garcia, staff member of Rep. Pryde Henry Teves died at 6:30 p.m. because of cardiac arrest at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon, City on December 17, 2007

Injuries

*Congressman

, legislator for the 3rd district of

. On December 18, 2007, Teves was moved out of the

intensive care unit 220px, Intensive care unit An intensive care unit (ICU), also known as an intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU) or critical care unit (CCU), is a special department of a hospital or health care facility that provides intensi ...

of St. Luke’s Medical Center in

to a private room, and recuperated from fractured leg and sustained deep burns in his arms from the bombing. On January 31, 2008, Teves reported for work at the House of Representatives, against doctors' advice. Teves, still in a wheelchair, wore black cotton gloves to protect his burned hands, and could not shake hands or use his cellular phone. *Congresswoman Luzviminda Ilagan, legislator for the

party-list.

Investigation

Philippine National Police Director General

Avelino Razon Avelino "Sonny" Razon Jr. (born September 27, 1952) is a Filipino former police officer and politician who served as Chief of the Philippine National Police from October 1, 2007 to September 28, 2008. He also ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Man ...

was ordered by

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...

to personally supervise the investigation of the explosion. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said in an interview that they had raided a house not far from the Congress Building. The occupants of the house started to shoot at them; consequently, the police killed three people, who were said to be suspected members of the terrorist group

Abu Sayyaf Abu Sayyaf (; ar, جماعة أبو سياف; ', ASG), officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province, is a Jihadist militant and pirate group that follows the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It is base ...

. The following was confiscated in the house: A dozen stickers bearing the logo of the Philippine Congress, a car plate with a number 8 (which is for Congressmen), an Identification Card from the House of Representatives, and the plate number which was suspected to have been removed from the motorcycle that was used to hide the bomb. The police arrested three suspects Caidar Aunal, Adham Kusain, and Ikram Indama and subsequent police interrogation disclosed "damning evidence" against the slain representative's political rivals, former Deputy House Speaker Gerry Salapuddin and

Anak Mindanao Anak Mindanao () also known as AMIN Partylist is a party-list in the Philippines, based in Mindanao. Anak Mindanao was established in 1997. It seek representation of Mindanaoans. In the 2004 elections for the House of Representatives the party ...

Party-List Rep.

Mujiv Hataman Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman (born September 11, 1972) is a Filipino indigenous people's rights advocate and politician from the indigenous Yakan people of the Sulu Archipelago. He became nationally prominent when he served as the sixth and last reg ...

, citing the trail of events and mechanisms involved in the planning of the attack, and as such, police said charges would be filed by government prosecutors against the slain Basilan congressman's political rivals.Blast Brains Charged
People's Journal The two political figures appeared beforehand at the National Police headquarters with the desire to clear their names of involvement in the attack. Subsequent action by government prosecutors made Salapuddin and Hataman, together with the latter's brother Benjamin "Jim" Hataman, suspects/masterminds in the bombing.

Arrest

On December 14, 2007, in 2-page resolution, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a

writ of habeas corpus ''Habeas corpus'' (; from Medieval Latin, ) is a recourse in law through which a person can report an unlawful detention or imprisonment to a court and request that the court order the custodian of the person, usually a prison official, t ...

on petition of suspects Caidar Aunal, Adham Kusain, and Ikram Indama. It required the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Capital Region-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (NCR-CIDU) and the PNP Custodial Center to file returns before

Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Romeo Zamora on December 18. On December 20, 2007, the criminal case Q-07-149982 filed against accused Caidar Aunal, Adham Kusain, and Ikram Indama was raffled to the sala of Regional Trial Court branch 83 Judge Ralph Lee after Branch 80 judge Charito Gonzales recused herself. On January 29, 2008, Judge Ralph Lee granted the three accused's motion for preliminary investigation, ordered the DOJ to issue resolution within 20 days, and the arraignment was set on February 26. The Judge also directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to transfer all accused to the Quezon City Jail. On April 28, 2008, Judge Lee issued the warrant and ordered the arrest of former Basilan Representative Gerry Salapuddin, Police Officer 1 Bayan Judda, Jaharun Jamiri and Benjamin Hataman, all indicted with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder cases before the court. Jamiri Hajirun y Usman, ex- mayor of Tuburan,

was indicted for violation of Section 2 of Republic Act 8294 (Illegal possession of explosives) before Manila RTC, on May 15, 2008, and P200,000 bail was recommended for his release.

References

External links

Abs-Cbn, Batasan blast archives, photos and videos
{{DEFAULTSORT:Batasang Pambansa Explosion 2007 in the Philippines November 2007 events in the Philippines 2007 murders in the Philippines Quezon City Crime in Metro Manila Building bombings in the Philippines Murder in the Philippines Mass murder in 2007 Attacks on legislatures Presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo