No one received the $5-million reward for the capture of a Jemaah Islamiyah leader, who was earlier reported killed but turned out to still be alive.
Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala on Thursday downplayed claims that the reward offered by the US government for Zulkifli bin Abdul Hir, alias Marwan, had been already been given to an informant.
"There was no reward given because his death was not validated. The only way to validate is to physically see his body or if its confirmed by DNA (test). Thats the only way you can validate it and thats the only time when you'll give the reward," Zagala said.
Marwan is the leader of the Southeast Asian regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah. He turned out to be alive after being reported killed in an air strike in Sulu in 2012.
But Zagala said military operations were ongoing to neutralize Marwan, who was linked to the deadly Bali bombings in Indonesia in 2002.
Intelligence Service of the AFP chief Maj. Gen. Eduardo Año on Wednesday said there were strong indications that Marwan was alive. He cited reports of Marwan's presence in Central Mindanao.
In February 2012, then AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes said Marwan, an alleged Jemaah Islamiya member Mohammad Ali, and 13 Abu Sayyaf men were killed in an air strike in Parang, Sulu.
But Zagala maintained the military "never said [Marwan] was dead."
"There was a report that he was killed in that air strike. However, it was never validated. Therefore, we consider him as alive," Zagala said.
"He is somewhere in Mindanao, specifically where I cant reveal to you. But there are ongoing operations against him...He is hunted by the government. He is subject by law enforcement operation," he added.
But Zagala said Marwan was already "ineffective" because he was on the run.
"As far as we are concerend, he is ineffective and we will get him sooner or later," he said.
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