Sulu District 2 Congresswoman Lady Ann Sahidulla yesterday appealed to authorities to dig deeper into the August 5 bombing at the Zamboanga City airport to unmask the real culprit or the mastermind and clear the innocent ones who are unnecessarily linked to the case.

In an interview with newsmen, Rep. Sahidulla said investigators looking into the case should observe the rules and procedures under the criminal justice system and avoid any announcement or public statement that would amount to trial by publicity.

“I am not favoring anybody. The investigation should be fair and there should be concrete evidence and not just hearsay in linking any person to the bombing,” said Sahidulla adding that the case is very sensitive and any premature announcement can destroy the reputation of a person.

The congresswoman stressed that there should be fair implementation of the law for everyone and it is unfair to always blame people from Sulu in cases like the airport bombing.

Sahidulla’s statement came after the police (Task Force ZIA) called a press conference last week in which they mentioned the names of former Sulu congressman Munir Arbison and two other Sulu politicians as allegedly linked to the bomb attack.

Arbison and the two other politicians had vehemently denied the charge. (See related story on this page)

The name of Rep. Sahidulla’s husband, Banguingi Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidulla, was also dragged into the case after the Task Force ZIA made an announcement that Addong Salahuddin, one of the suspects, had allegedly worked for Mayor Sahidulla.

“My husband is innocent. We don’t know who he (Salauddin) is. We don’t know where they got the information,” Sahidulla had earlier said.

She added that she and her husband should not be considered as political rivals of the Sulu governor.

“I’m not a political rival. I ran for Congress and my husband ran for mayor,” Sahidulla said.

The congresswoman said she understands that the police are just doing their job, but cautioned them to be circumspect in making any announcement that would destroy the reputation of law abiding citizens.

Meanwhile, Rep. Sahidulla vowed to work hard in Congress to improve the image of Sulu, from a strife-torn province to a promising place where natural resources from the sea and mountains are bountiful, ready to be tapped and harnessed to boost the province’s economy and create jobs for the Sulu natives and residents.