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Sunday, April 01, 2007
Military confirms Malaysian terror suspect still in Sulu
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed that a Malaysian terror suspect who was recently included in the United States wanted list is still hiding with other al-Qaeda-linked militants in Sulu province.
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Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. revealed that Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan is in Sulu. "I have heard of him before," he added.
Earlier this week, the State Department has put up a $5-million bounty for the capture of Zulkifli, who it said was hiding in the country after having trained local militants.
Esperon said there would be no let up in the pursuit operations against extremist leaders in the southern Philippines, which have been ongoing for nearly eight months.
"We will not stop until we get these suspects," Esperon said.
Zulkifli is a Malaysian citizen born in 1966 in Muar, Johor, according to a statement released by the US Embassy.
It said that as an engineer trained in the United States, Zulkifli allegedly heads the Kumpulun Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) terrorist organization, and a member of Jemaah Islamiyah's central command.
He has been present in the Philippines since August 2003, where he is believed to have conducted bomb-making training for the Abu Sayyaf Group.
Two other foreigners, Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who are wanted for the 2002 Bali bombings that killed over 200 people, are also believed to be hiding together with the Abu Sayyafs in Sulu province.
The US has put up a $10-million bounty for Dulmatin and $5 million for Patek, both alleged members of the Jemaah Islamiyah, al-Qaeda's Southeast Asian arm.
The Sulu pursuit operations, dubbed Oplan Ultimatum, have so far resulted in the deaths of top Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafy Janjalani and his second-in-command, Jainal Antel Sali alias Abu Solaiman.(Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (April 1, 2007 issue)
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