Marwan’s Bounty Could Go to 2 MILF Members

The multi-million-dollar reward money over the head of Malaysian bombmaker and Jemaah Islamiya leader Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, might be given to the two members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

A report on GMA News’ “24 Oras” aired Thursday has quoted a source as saying the two undisclosed informants, who told the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) the whereabouts of Marwan, are members of the MILF, GMA News Online reported.

The two MILF members wore SAF uniforms during the raid, along with the elite police troopers. Report said they also gave information to the SAF over Marwan’s exact location. Report added that the two MILF members survived the bloody encounter last January and are now being hidden in a safe house.

The two were recruited in January by the PNP Intelligence Group, GMA News Online reported.

Suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima told Director Getulio Napeñas, since relieved as SAF commander, to get in touch with Intelligence Group director Supt. Fernando Mendez and that, the report said, was the start of planning for “Operation Exodus”– the SAF operation to capture Marwan.

Purisima, Napeñas, and Mendez then briefed President Benigno Aquino III at Bahay Pangarap in Malacañang on Jan. 9, the report said.

Last Thursday, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin confirmed that the bounty for Marwan will go to the informant for the operation, GMA News Online said.

Report said that in any case, the money cannot go to government troops and intelligent agents according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“I understand that cash rewards go directly to tipsters who provided the accurate information leading to the success of the mission like the arrest of a terrorist,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc told GMA News Online in a text message.

When asked if government troops or intelligence agents are allowed to receive bounties, he just said: “Nope, not allowed.”

When asked who will receive the bounty, Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said he is not “privy to the reward,” and has no information on it adding that it would be up to the United States on who will receive the bounty.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which offered $5 million for information leading to Marwan’s arrest, confirmed on Wednesday that the DNA sample it received from Philippine authorities came from Marwan, report said.

Report said the PNP-SAF commandos shot Marwan dead and then cut off a finger for DNA analysis and identification, a preliminary report of the PNP’s Board of Inquiry said.

Marwan, described as Southeast Asia’s Osama Bin Laden, was the main target of the Jan. 25 police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, which claimed the lives of 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force personnel.

Source: GMA News Online