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Friday, June 08, 2007
US hands over $10 million to informants v. Sayyaf
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The US government, through its Rewards for Justice Program (RJP), handed out US$10 million to four former members of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf who provided information that led to the death of two top terrorist-leaders in the island province of Sulu.
The reward, which is equivalent to 460 million pesos, was handed out Thursday by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, who flew to Sulu along with top Philippine government officials.
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Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, chief of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said Ambassador Kenney handed over the reward money in a ceremony held at the Hall of Justice in Jolo, the capital of Sulu province.
Kenney was accompanied to Jolo, the capital of Sulu, by Armed Force Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr., National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, and other officials of the US Embassy in the Philippines.
The four tipped off the Philippine military stationed in Sulu the locations of Abu Sayyaf leaders Khadaffy Janjalani and Jainal Antel Salih alias Abu Solaiman in the province.
Janjalani was killed in gun battle with Philippine Marines on September 4, 2006, in Barangay Kabuntakas, Patikul, Sulu.
Six soldiers died while 19 others were wounded in that firefight.
Janjalani’s body was exhumed in a shallow grave with the help of the informants, who surrendered to the military.
The death of Janjalani was confirmed through Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test conducted by US forensic experts.
Khadaffy assumed the leadership of the Abu Sayyaf after his elder brother, Abdurajak Abubakar--who founded the group, was killed by policemen in a clash in the late 80s in Basilan province.
Salih, an engineer, was killed in a gun battle with government troops last January 16 in Mount Daho, Talipao, Sulu.
A US $5 million reward for each of the two top Abu Sayyaf leaders was set by the RJP of the United States.
The RJP is one of the most valuable US Government assets in the fight against international terrorism. It was established to bring worldwide assistance to the US government’s global war against terror.
More than US $62 million had been paid to more than 40 people who provided information that prevented international terrorist attacks or helped bring to justice those involved in terror acts, said a statement issued by RJP. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (June 8, 2007 issue)
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