August 30, 2001, The Philippine Star, Basilan governor fears for life,

August 30, 2001, The Philippine Star, Basilan governor fears for life,

An Abu Sayyaf hit squad has been sent to kill Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar and his family. 

Akbar told radio station dzXL yesterday the Abu Sayyaf has declared "total war" against him and that assassins are out to kill his family and relatives. 

"They are killing my family and destroying my government," he said. Akbar said the bandits have already killed some of his men and that they will not stop until they have gotten rid of him and eliminated his whole family. 

Akbar said he has been in the forefront of the war against the Abu Sayyaf since he became governor of Basilan and that he will continue hunting down the bandits. 

He denied reports that he brokered the payment of ransom for the release of businessman Reghis Romero, one of the 20 hostages snatched from the upscale Dos Palmas island resort off Palawan last May 27. 

"How could I broker the ransom payment when the Abu Sayyaf are out to kill my family and relatives, and also out to destroy my administration of the province?" he asked. 

Romero was said to have escaped from the clutches of the bandits when government troops laid siege on St. Peter’s Church and Jose Ma. Torres Memorial Hospital in Lamitan, Basilan last June 2. 

Akbar was reacting to the allegations of Rep. Prospero Pichay, chairman of the House committee on national defense, that two Basilan residents had linked him to the alleged payment of ransom for the release of Romero and a woman companion. 

Pichay said the two witnesses, who are former Abu Sayyaf hostages, would testify that Akbar was involved in the payoff that led to the freedom of Romero and other captives. 

"They claim that they were there and that they saw money, lots of it, change hands," he said. 

Romero will appear today before Pichay’s committee, along with the two Basilan residents who have accused Akbar of taking part in the ransom negotiations for his release and his companion, Rhiza Rodriguez. 

It will be Romero’s first public appearance since escaping from the Abu Sayyaf during fighting between the Army and the extremist rebels early in June. – Perseus Echeminada, Jess Diaz, Miram Garcia-Descada