Ex-Basilan town mayor implicates Hatamans in Batasan blast

The former mayor of Tuburan, Basilan, on Wednesday implicated Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman and the lawmaker’s brother Jim in the November 13 blast at the Batasan Pambansa complex that killed Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and three people. Hajarun Jamiri, a suspect in the Batasan explosion, gave an affidavit to police that singled out the Hatamans to a plot to assassinate Akbar, according to a 24 Oras report Wednesday. In his affidavit, Jamiri claimed he met with the Hatamans in late October and the brothers told him he would take part in a plan to kill Akbar. “Mujiv Hataman did not say why he wanted to kill Akbar but his brother said killing the lawmaker will restore peace and order in Basilan," Jamiri said in Filipino in his affidavit. Mujiv denied the accusation, swearing that his conscience is clear. “I call on the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to be prudent in the investigation into the blast. It should not allow itself to be influenced by talk about my alleged involvement in Akbar’s death," he said. In a GMA News phone interview, Mujiv’s brother Jim admitted that Akbar was his political rival but he would not resort to violence to fight the late Basilan congressman. “Why would I burden my children with this problem that they cannot handle?" he said. Jamiri has been under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at Camp Crame since Monday last week after he was arrested during a follow up operation in Manila for the November 13 incident. Jamiri’s lawyer said the former mayor admitted that he hid one of the bombs and that the explosives were really intended to kill Akbar. It was at Jamiri’s rented apartment in Malate that an improvised explosive device (IED) also intended for Akbar was recovered last week by police and Army operatives. - GMANews.TV