Condemnation pours in

Government officials, foreign diplomats, Catholic bishops and non-government organizations condemned yesterday the bombing at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City that killed Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and three others last Tuesday night.

Vice President Noli de Castro condemned the bombing as he urged the public to avoid speculations and wait for the result of the police investigation.

“I join the rest of the nation in expressing sadness over this unfortunate incident at the Batasan. I condemn this criminal act in the highest manner possible. Lawlessness and violence should be condemned by all freedom-loving Filipinos,” he said.

Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. also called for sobriety.

“We condemn this dastardly act. We should resume normal operations to prove to perpetrators of the crime that we cannot be cowed by this act of terrorism,” Villar said.

The Senate resumed regular session yesterday in a bid to show to the perpetrators of the bombing that they will not succeed in sowing fear among the people.

“We should not allow the destabilizers to succeed in disrupting our daily activities. It should be business as usual, and we will continue with our work at the Senate. The inquiries on the bribery (at the Palace last Oct. 11) and the national broadband network project continue,” he said.

The Senate president cautioned President Arroyo against using the incident as a reason for declaring emergency rule in the country. 

Villar also ordered the Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia to place on red alert all security personnel in the Senate in Manila.

The Senate security team used bomb-sniffing dogs and conducted a room-to-room inspection of the Senate offices.

United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney called Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. yesterday and conveyed the American government’s sorrow and condolences.

The US also offered to provide assistance to the police in their investigation of the explosion at the Batasan.

“The US Embassy wishes to express shock and dismay over the explosion that occurred outside the Philippine Congress the night of November 13. We offer heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed, and hope for a speedy recovery for those injured,” the embassy said in a statement.

The British government likewise condemned the attack at the Batasan.

British Ambassador Peter Beckingham said the United Kingdom “looks forward to a quick but thorough investigation into the incident.”

“We condemn all forms of senseless violence. We send our deep condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the blast. We wish those who were hurt a speedy recovery,” Beckingham said.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called for a thorough investigation of the bombing to determine the suspects in the incident they described as “hideous and a condemnable act.”

“The Church condemns such act. I pray that conscience would bring perpetrators to the hands of justice because it is really sad that lives were lost in this unexpected incident,” CBCP media affairs chairman and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez Jr. said.

Iniguez, however, asked the public not to believe speculations and avoid premature reactions, and instead wait for results of the official investigation.

Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. said the bombing was an obvious “act of terrorism that you cannot definitely approve of.”

The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) also rallied behind the Catholic bishops in condemning the bombing.

PCPR also called for an independent investigation into the incident, which the group said should not be confined to the police angle that pinpoints Akbar as the target of the attack.

Members of the PCPR gathered at St. Peter’s Church in Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City yesterday and prayed for all the victims of the Batasan bombing.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel called on the administration to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the bomb explosion at the Batasan.

Pimentel also cautioned President Arroyo against declaring a state of emergency.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan believes that there are forces working to undermine the country’s democracy.

“We express our condolences to the families of those who were killed and hurt. We condemn this violent attack on Congress. We believe that anti-democratic forces are working to undermine our constitutional democracy,” Pangilinan said.

Sen. Loren Legarda condemned the “cowardice” of the act and challenged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to determine the motive and put the masterminds behind bars.

“The Batasan blast is truly unfortunate and disturbing. There must be a thorough and swift investigation of this incident and the perpetrators of this cowardly act must be brought to justice soonest,” Legarda said.

Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson appealed to the people to pray for the victims of the bombing.

“Let us pray for those who died and the early recovery for the wounded. This is a very unfortunate incident for our nation. Shocking and must be condemned,” Singson said.

Singson said the perpetrators are so cruel that even the home of legislators was not spared from terrorists.

La Union Rep. Victor Ortega also condemned the bombing at the House of Representatives on Tuesday and prayed that the culprits will be arrested immediately.

Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza said the bombing at the House would not give the country a positive image but instead affect foreign investments and tourism in the country.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza led leaders of the Liberal Party in denouncing the assassination of Akbar.

“This is not only an attack on one lawmaker but an assault on an institution of democracy itself,” Atienza said.

Leaders in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao denounced the killing of Akbar and urged authorities to investigate who could have been behind it.

ARMM Regional Trade Secretary Ishak Mastura said the violence in Mindanao is now being exported to Manila. “There is much reason now to pursue vigorously the Mindanao peace process and intensify the peace talks aimed at resolving the Moro conflict in the South,” Mastura said.

ARMM Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, who has just arrived from the tripartite talks between the government, the Moro National Liberation Front, and the Organization of Islamic Conference last Nov. 10-12 in Saudi Arabia, convened the regional cabinet and discussed the impact of Akbar’s death to peace and order in Basilan.

“I’m very sad with the death of a fellow Moro leader who envisioned to have peace and sustainable development in his province,” Ampatuan told The STAR in a text message.

The Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) expressed shock over the bombing of the House of Representatives.

The PCID statement said that no political end can justify such a dastardly act.

“We call on law enforcement authorities to exhaust all legal means to bring the perpetrators to justice. We commiserate with the families of those who have been victimized by this brutal attack. We particularly mourn the death of a brother in faith, Basilan Rep. Akbar,” PCID said.

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) condemned in strongest terms the bombing, with LCP president and Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos saying the use of such violence is an act denounced by the whole nation.

“It (bombing) can never be tolerated under the rule of law,” said Abalos.

The militant Bagong Alysansang Makabayan also assailed the Batasan bombing.

“We call for an impartial and thorough probe of the incident even as we cry for justice for the victims,” the group said. - With Edu Punay. Non Alquitran, Jun Elias, Ben Serrano, Artemio Dumlao, John Unson