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Batasan bombing suspects refuse to sign affidavits

By Gerry Baldo

12/03/2007

The investigation of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) into the Batasan bombing could be in serious doubt even as the alleged suspects in the crime refused to sign their alleged affidavits implicating Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman and his brother and former Deputy Speaker Gerry Salapuddin.

According to Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, a lawyer by profession, the police would find it difficult to prove their theory when the suspects declined to sign their alleged sworn statements.

Nograles, head of the House contingent to the Commission on Appointments, said proving the case against Hataman and Salapuddin would be a completely different ballgame than accusing and filing charges against them in court.

“This is a legal problem. It’s easy to accuse but this may be hard to prove, especially if the witnesses are not sure about what they are saying,” Nograles yesterday said.

Former Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Abdulgani “Gerry” Salapuddin and Representative Hataman and his brother Jim Hataman, all from Basilan, were charged by the police as “principals by inducements” in the Batasan bombing that killed Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and three other legislative staff members.

But the alleged suspects, including former Tuburan Mayor Harijun Jamiri of Basilan, Ikram Indama and Kahidal Awnar, had refused to sign their sworn statements during the preliminary investigation conducted by the Department of Justice last Thursday. The police had allegedly refused to allow the suspects a lawyer of their own choice.

In the questionable affidavit, which was prepared by a lawyer supplied by the police for Jamiri, Representative Hataman was alleged to have given the suspect P5,000 as initial payment to kill Akbar.

Eduardo Aribas, counsel for Jamiri, said it is now clear his client is refuting the affidavit which was prepared by the police-supplied lawyer.

Citizens Battle Against Corruption Rep. Joel Villanueva appealed to the police to do their job properly so that there would be no innocent individuals who would suffer as a consequence of their acts.

“Hindi maganda na ang kanilang suspects mismo ang ayaw pumirma sa kanilang affidavit. Negatibo ang dating niyan sa kanilang kredebilidad,” Villanueva said.