Terror bomber Palace Man?

I don't know kung totoo ito. Pero nasa front page ito ng Journal.com.ph kanina.

TERROR BOMBER PALACE MAN?
by : Fernando M. Cariaso

Suspect also linked to ‘Hello, Garci’ scandal

ONE of those charged by the police in connection with the October 10 bombing in Mindanao where six people were killed and 20 others wounded is a former Moro National Liberation Front leader now working with the government and attached to the office of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in Malacanang, sources at the largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said yesterday.

Respondent Hadji Akmad Bayam went to work for the government after the group signed the 1996 GRP-MNLF agreement with the government, the sources alleged.

He was also involved in the “Hello, Garci Tape” controversy and recently was sent by Ermita to Basilan to negotiate for the release of a kidnapped victim, the daughter of the president of the Southwestern Mindanao University in Zamboanga City, the sources said to reinforce allegations that he is a political operator by the Palace.

Bayam, along with MILF chief Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and several other ranking MILF officials were charged with murder by the Philippine National Police following the bombings in Central Mindanao.

According to sources at the MILF, Bayam once served the late Congressman Salipada Pendatun in late 60s, as well as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Bayam, described by sources as a very articulate and intelligent person, reportedly hails from Kabuntalan, Maguindanao.

An MILF official said a non-government organization based in Central Mindanao has requested Secretary Ermita to confirm or deny that Bayam is working in any capacity in his office in Malacañang.

Arsad Solaiman, chairperson of the Moro Youth for Bangsamoro Genuine Empowerment (MYBGE), was quoted as saying that such clarification would really help establish the veracity of the allegation that the accused in the Central Philippines bombings, especially Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and Hadji Akmad Bayam were really involved in the planning and execution of the series of terror attacks.

“It becomes urgent that Ermita speak up and clear this issue so that people will know the real truth behind the raging controversy on who really did that barbaric act in Makilala,” sources said.

I hope mr. ermita can clarify things for the public.

More on Hadji Akmad Bayam from Moroland:

A non-government organization (NGO) based in Central Mindanao has requested Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to confirm or deny that Hadji Akmad Bayam is working in any capacity in his office in Malacañang. The request came in the wake of the filing of murder charges against Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Hadji Akmad Bayam, et al, in connection with the Makilala bombing on October 10 that killed six people and wounded 29 others. Arsad Solaiman, chairperson of the Moro Youth for Bangsamoro Genuine Empowerment (MYBGE), told Luwaran that such clarification would really help establish the veracity of the allegation that the accused especially Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and Hadji Akmad Bayam were really involved in the planning and execution of the series of terror attacks in Central Mindanao .

MYBGE, according to Arsad, is a newly organized group that will help enrich the discussion on various issues confronting the government and the MILFin their peace talks.

“It becomes urgent that Ermita will speak up and clear this issue so that people will know the real truth behind the raging controversy on who really did that barbaric act in Makilala,” he stated.

He also disclosed that there is a clear plot by vested interest groups in Mindanao led by North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piòol to destroy the good reputation of the MILF.

Earlier reports disclosed that Bayam was formerly a high ranking official of the MNLF and is now working with the government after the group had signed the 1996 agreement with the government.

Bayam, a very articulate person, once served the late Congressman Salipada Pendatun in late 60s, as well as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). He was also involved in the “Hello Garci Tape” controversy and recently was sent by Ermita to Basilan to negotiate for the release of a kidnapped victim, the daughter of the president of the Southwestern Mindanao University in Zamboanga City .

And this:

Correction: We would like to correct the news item appearing in the abs-cbnnews.com, today and yesterday, saying that Hadji Akmad Bayam, one of the accused in the bombings in Makilala, North Cotabato and Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat on October 10, is the information officer of the MILF. Bayam was once the information of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), but is now with the government.

A source in Malacanang told Luwaran that Bayam is holding a portfolio as Assistant Secretary in the External Affairs Department in the office of President Macapagal but is detailed in the office of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

Wow.