Suspect says Hataman, Salapuddin not involved in blast
ABS-CBN News Online
National (as of 12/4/2007 3:07 AM)

Former mayor Hajaron Jamiri has withdrawn an earlier statement he made that Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman and ex-Basilan congressman Gerry Salapuddin were involved in the blast at the Batasan Pambansa complex that killed Rep. Wahab Akbar and three congressional aides on November 13.

Jamiri's lawyer told ABS-CBN News correspondent Dominic Almelor Monday night that his client was forced to sign the affidavit linking Hataman and Salapuddin to the blast.

The lawyer added that Jamiri has likewise absolved Jim Hataman, the congressman's brother, of involvement in the bomb attack.

Director General Avelino Razon, chief of the Philippine National Police, meanwhile, said he has yet to be informed of the development.

A hearing has been scheduled for December 10. Jamiri's lawyer said they will file a counter-affidavit before the court on that date.

Jamiri was tagged among the suspects in the blast that also injured 12 people.

By: Fidel Jimenez
GMANews.TV
12/04/2007 | 09:16 PM

A party-list lawmaker, one of two high profile personalities tagged as masterminds behind the November 13 blast at the Batasang Pambansa, slammed Tuesday the result of the investigation of the Philippine National Police- Criminal Investigation Group (PNP-CIDG) into the attack.

In his privilege speech, Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman, said he believes that police investigators are executing a “script" to implicate him in the explosion that blew to death five people including his political rival, Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar.

“We all witnessed the incident and how authorities swiftly caught the suspects in Payatas (Quezon City). And how lucky the authorities were when all the [pieces of] evidence that they said were used in plotting the bomb attack are found in the supposed hide out," he said.

But like a telenovela, Hataman said there should be mysteries in the script just like the death of one of the suspects, Abu Jandal, an alleged bomb maker, and the confession of Ridwan Indama, the man who allegedly conspired with the supposed masterminds.

“If only they were still alive, this telenovela is already finished and the truth has come out. But what if the ‘director’ who is all behind this things wanted a different ending?" Hataman asked.

(Privilege Speech of Rep. Mujiv Hataman delivered before the Plenary Session of the House of Representatives, December 4, 2007)

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi taala wabarakatuhu

It is with utmost regret that I consciously prevent myself from addressing you, honorable members of this most august chamber, as “colleagues”… for ladies and gentlemen, last Thursday, November 29, this representation has been charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder before the Department of Justice, based solely on the words of an Ikram Indama, in the third supplemental statement that he issued, and the retracted statement of former Tuburan Mayor Hajarun Jamiri. By God, I swear that these accusations are not true, but by the maneuver and manipulation of unseen hands, they have succeeded in pulling me down to the lowest rank of criminals, thus, as a respect to you, and to this honored body, I prohibit myself from addressing you as “fellows” o ang tawagin kayo bilang “mga kasama.”  

However, allow me to honor you with the update on the latest script of the telenovela, that is, the House of Representatives bombing. My apologies for the pun, for I know that what we went through when the explosion occurred can never be the subject of a joke… however, as the days and weeks passed, the drama started to unfold, with yours truly slowly being brought into the limelight, my person, gradually molded to be one of the leading characters.

Naging saksi po tayong lahat sa aksidenteng pagkakahuli sa mga suspek sa Payatas, at kung paano maswerteng basta na lang tumambad sa harapan ng ating kapulisan ang lahat ng ebidensiya na magpapatunay na sila nga ang may kagagawan ng pagsabog. Ngunit, tulad ng karaniwang telenovela, upang manatiling may misteryo sa kwento, kinailangang mamatay ang isang Abu Jandal, na sinasabing bomb expert at isang Abu Sayyaf. Namatay rin si Ridwan Indama, na ayon sa mga nahuli ay siyang nakikipag usap at humaharap sa mga masterminds. Kung hindi sana sila namatay, natapos na sana ang kwento, at lumabas na sana ang katotohanan. Ngunit paano kung ang paglabas ng katotohanan ay taliwas sa wakas na gustong mangyari ng director?