Widows of late Basilan congressman file COCs

ISABELA CITY, Philippines - The two widows of the late Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar formally filed Wednesday their certificate of candidacies (COC) for top positions in the province.

The widows Gov. Jum Akbar and Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar, both incumbent and outgoing elected officials, were joined by their children Alfiya Akbar-Fernandez and Alquaid Akbar, also current elected officials in the province.

Gov. Akbar will be seeking the lone congressional post of this province while Mayor Santos-Akbar will be sliding down to vice mayor position.

Alfiya, the eldest daughter of Gov. Akbar, is seeking reelection as provincial board member of the first district, while her younger brother Alquaid, councilor of this city guns for the mayoralty post as replacement to his stepmother, Mayor Santos-Akbar.

Gov. Akbar said she is not unfazed to run for the congressional post which cost the life of her husband who was assassinated in a bombing incident in Batasan Complex, Quezon City in November 2007.

Akbar said the current political situation is totally different from before.

“Gusto ko na ipagpatuloy ang mga magandang programang gustong ipatupad ng yumao kong asawa at siyempre umaasa ang taumbayan ng Basilan sa atin,” Gov. Akbar said.

Mayor Santos-Akbar said they wanted to continue her late husband’s good legacy and to finish several development programs.  

“Implementation of programs and development will be swift because the mayor will be my stepson,” Mayor Akbar said citing the continuity of her program for the city.

Alquaid, 23, will be the youngest mayor to run in Isabela and the most academically equipped as graduate from international schools in the United States and Manila.

The young Akbar, fondly called as “Ochoy,” downplayed the criticism that he is an unseasoned political leader, citing his dynamism and youth leadership principles.

Rohaida Dia, election officer in the city, formally accepted the COCs of the Akbars and their party mates running for council and provincial board positions.

Dia said the city is a hotly-contested area following the recent bombing incident that killed three people.

“Nakapag bloat ng issue ang recent bombing that targeted another political leader who was aspiring for the city’s top position,” Dia said.

Senior Superintendent Oscar Nantes, provincial police director, said they have discussed about the areas considered as hotspots with the military.

Nantes said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will determine the hotspots to be placed under Comelec watch.

He said elections in Basilan and other parts of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) since 2010 were described to be generally peaceful.