Wahab Akbar
Encyclopedia
Ustadz Wahab M. Akbar 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 terrorists in the province. He was later elected as congressman for the lone district of Basilan in the House of Representatives, but was one of 4 people killed in a bomb attack at the Batasang Pambansa. Police publicly suspected the attack was directed at him by political opponents.
, Basilan
where his father, Hadji Mohtamad Salajin, served as the town's first mayor. At age 11 Akbar joined his father to fight in the mountains, but after three years Salajin was persuaded to join the government and was appointed mayor of Lantawan by President Ferdinand Marcos
.
He studied agriculture
at Gregorio Araneta University (now De La Salle Araneta University), but did not finish. A member of the Liberal Party
, Akbar was first elected governor of Basilan
in the 1998 elections
. He was reelected in 2001
and 2004
.
Akbar was constitutionally barred from seeking a fourth consecutive term as governor. Instead, he successfully sought election
to the Congress, representing the lone district of his home province. One of his wives won the election to succeed him as governor. Another of his wives is mayor of the provincial capital, Isabela City
; A third wife ran, and lost, the race to be mayor of another city in Basilan.
He was strongly suspected of having ties with the Abu Sayyaf
, an Islamic extremist group linked to Al Qaeda, with some reports even claiming that he was a founding member and a commander until a falling-out with the group.
, third wife Nur-in Akbar, fourth wife Marietta Zamoranos, and fifth wife (who is Syrian).
Medical Center from injuries sustained following an explosion at the House of Representatives in the Batasang Pambansa complex. The blast also immediately killed the driver of another legislator. Three other congressional staff members would die from blast injuries, including one of Akbar's own aides.
According to National Capital Region
Police Office
chief, Director Geary Barias, Akbar could have been the target of the bombing, since his vehicle bore the brunt of the damage.
The next day, his body was brought to Basilan
for his burial. He was buried in front of his mansion which was still under construction.
issued a writ of habeas corpus 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 Quezon City
Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Romeo Zamora on December 18. However, the family suspected that the head of the killing was Gerry Salapuddin, an ex-governor of Basilan, and Mujiv Hataman, an Anak Mindanao
Representative of Basilan.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
politician who served three terms as governor of Basilan
Basilan
The Province of Basilan is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula...
, during which time he was known for his "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" policy for dealing with kidnappers and terrorists in the province. He was later elected as congressman for the lone district of Basilan in the House of Representatives, but was one of 4 people killed in a bomb attack at the Batasang Pambansa. Police publicly suspected the attack was directed at him by political opponents.
Life
Wahab Akbar was born in LantawanLantawan, Basilan
Lantawan is a 4th class municipality in the province of Basilan, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 28,978 people.On August 25, 2007, 10 of its barangays were constituted into the separate municipality of Hadji Muhtamad...
, Basilan
Basilan
The Province of Basilan is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula...
where his father, Hadji Mohtamad Salajin, served as the town's first mayor. At age 11 Akbar joined his father to fight in the mountains, but after three years Salajin was persuaded to join the government and was appointed mayor of Lantawan by President Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
.
He studied agriculture
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, usually abbreviated as either B.Sc. or B.S.A. or BScAg, is the first undergraduate degree awarded by university faculty of agriculture and agricultural colleges. The program is 4 years of study above Grade 12 High School graduation.The B.Sc. degree differs...
at Gregorio Araneta University (now De La Salle Araneta University), but did not finish. A member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
, Akbar was first elected governor of Basilan
Basilan
The Province of Basilan is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula...
in the 1998 elections
Philippine general election, 1998
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 11, 1998. The two main competing coalitions in the senatorial election were the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP and the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino -led coalition composed of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino , Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino , the...
. He was reelected in 2001
Philippine general election, 2001
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 14, 2001. Independent candidate Noli de Castro, a former television anchor of TV Patrol of ABS-CBN was announced as the topnotcher...
and 2004
Philippine general election, 2004
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2004. The major coalitions that participated are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan composed of parties that support the candidacy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino ,...
.
Akbar was constitutionally barred from seeking a fourth consecutive term as governor. Instead, he successfully sought election
Philippine general election, 2007
Legislative and local elections were held in the Philippines on May 14, 2007. Positions contested included half the seats in the Senate, which are elected for six-year terms, and all the seats in the House of Representatives, who were elected for three-year terms...
to the Congress, representing the lone district of his home province. One of his wives won the election to succeed him as governor. Another of his wives is mayor of the provincial capital, Isabela City
Isabela City
Isabela City is a 5th class city and the capital of the province of Basilan, Philippines. The city is located on the northern shore of Basilan. Across the Basilan Strait to the north is Zamboanga City...
; A third wife ran, and lost, the race to be mayor of another city in Basilan.
He was strongly suspected of having ties with the Abu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya is one of several military Islamist separatist groups based in and around the southern Philippines, in Bangsamoro where for almost 30 years various Muslim groups have been engaged in an insurgency for an independent province in the country...
, an Islamic extremist group linked to Al Qaeda, with some reports even claiming that he was a founding member and a commander until a falling-out with the group.
Personal Life
He was married to first wife Jum Jainnudin, second wife, Cherry Lyn SantosCherry Lyn Santos
CherryLyn Santos is a Basilan the 1st lady mayor of isabela city and former wife of deceased strongman Wahab Akbar. She is currently mayor of Isabela City, a part of Basilan that is administratively part of Zamboanga del Sur, and was re-elected for a second term in 2010.-Background:CherryLyn was...
, third wife Nur-in Akbar, fourth wife Marietta Zamoranos, and fifth wife (who is Syrian).
Death
On November 13, 2007, Akbar died at the Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical FoundationFar Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation
The Far Eastern University - Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation or FEU-NRMF Institute of Medicine is a medical school in West Fairview, Quezon City, Philippines.-History:...
Medical Center from injuries sustained following an explosion at the House of Representatives in the Batasang Pambansa complex. The blast also immediately killed the driver of another legislator. Three other congressional staff members would die from blast injuries, including one of Akbar's own aides.
According to National Capital Region
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
Police Office
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
chief, Director Geary Barias, Akbar could have been the target of the bombing, since his vehicle bore the brunt of the damage.
The next day, his body was brought to Basilan
Basilan
The Province of Basilan is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula...
for his burial. He was buried in front of his mansion which was still under construction.
Writ of Habeas Corpus
On December 14, 2007, in 2-page resolution, the Supreme Court of the PhilippinesSupreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
issued a writ of habeas corpus 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 Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Romeo Zamora on December 18. However, the family suspected that the head of the killing was Gerry Salapuddin, an ex-governor of Basilan, and Mujiv Hataman, an Anak Mindanao
Anak Mindanao
Anak Mindanao is a party-list in the Philippines, based in Mindanao.In the 2004 elections for the House of Representatives the party-list got 269,750 votes and one seat...
Representative of Basilan.