Friday, April 20, 2007 US releases $85,000 to 2 Filipino anti-terror informants By Bong Garcia
THE Unites States government through its Reward for Justice Program released $85,000 to two Filipino informants who were instrumental in the neutralization of two ranking leaders of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
The reward money, already converted into Philippine currency, was given Thursday morning to the two informants dubbed as "Mr. Invincible" and "Mr. Hollow Man" by Lieutenant General Eugenio Cedo, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief.
Mr. Hollow Man received $50,000 while Mr. Invincible $35,000. The reward money was given in a simple ceremony held at Laong Laan Hall of the Wesmincom headquarters inside Camp Don Basilio Navarro in Zamboanga City.
Mr. Hollow Man was instrumental in the neutralization of Abu Sayyaf leader Jumdan Jamalul alias Black Killer while Mr. Invincible for the neutralization of Binang Sali alias Commander Freedom.
The Reward for Justice Program is a tool in the fight against terrorism by giving monetary rewards to informant or informants who could provide information that would lead to the neutralization of terrorist leaders and members.
"This program works in the fight against terrorism. There is nothing we could not accomplish when we work as a team," Navy Commander James Marvin of the US Defense Department said during the ceremony.
Black Killer was killed in a clash at sea with Filipino troops around 4:45 p.m. last January 6 in the vicinity of Balimbing Island in the town of Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi.
The Wesmincom said Black Killer has been involved in the series of high profile terror activities like the kidnappings of 21 Asians and Europeans in Sipadan, Malaysia on April 23, 2000.
He was also involved in the hostage taking of Jesus Miracle Crusade members headed by Reverend Wilde Almeda of that same year.
He was likewise involved in the kidnapping of American Jeffrey Edward Schilling on August 28, 2002 and the abduction of French journalist Lorenz Legaratez at the height of the Sipadan hostage crisis in 2000.
Black Killer was also involved in several attacks and killings of government troops since 2000, according to the Wesmincom.
In the case of Sali, he was killed in an encounter with Filipino troops in Mount Pula, Barangay Anuling, Patikul, Sulu last January 9.
The Wesmincom said he was one of the hardcore members under the late Abu Sayyaf founding-leader Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani in Basilan province.
Sali is the adviser and founder of the so-called freedom group affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf based in Sulu.
The freedom group is a cell-type organization with no specific organizational make-up and clear-cut leadership that appears to serve as a force multiplier of the Abu Sayyaf and as a striking team intended to make the destructive presence felt in urban areas.
The Wesmincom said Sali was involved in the kidnappings of Americans and Filipinos in Dos Palmas Beach Resort, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan in May 27, 2001. This resulted in the summary execution of American national Guillermo Sobero for failure to pay ransom.
He was involved in the kidnapping of Caridad and Beltran Vergara on April 12, 2006 and Jacqueline and Jeffrey Silbin on July 27, 2006 in Jolo, Sulu.
The Wesmincom said Sali also participated in the kidnapping of Grace Gonzales, the daughter of then Western Mindanao State University president Eldigario Gonzales on August 1, 2006.
The Wesmincom said that recently, Sali's group manifested the launching of an attack against US military personnel in Sulu and in the other parts of the region.
Sali and his group were also responsible for the ambush of soldiers in Barangay Busbus, Jolo, Sulu on May 12, 2004 and in the killing of Francisco Gaspar on December 29, 2006 in Jolo.
The group is also contemplating the possible bombing operations in metropolitan cities primarily in this city and Jolo, Sulu, according to the Wesmincom.
