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US releases $85,000 to 2 Filipino anti-terror informants |
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Source Ulysses E. Israel
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Monday, 23 April 2007 |
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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.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 April 2007 )
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