FBI doing tests on tissue sample of 'unknown' person but denies role in SAF mission on Marwan

From InterAksyon (Feb 3): FBI doing tests on tissue sample of 'unknown' person but denies role in SAF mission on Marwan

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed it is conducting tests on a "biological sample of an unknown individual" - presumably Marwan - as part of its program to assist counterparts in disrupting terror networks around the world.

The FBI strongly denied, however, it is in any way involved in planning or executing the "apprehension operation" against the Malaysian terrorist Marwan last Jan. 25, in a mission that led to the death of 44 police commandos, triggering calls for an investigation into apparent poor planning.

The members of the PNP Special Action Forces (PNP-SAF) were deployed to a marshy village in Mamasapano, Maguindanao at dawn of Jan. 25, with orders to collar Marwan - real name Zulkifli bin Hir - and his Filipino cohort the bomb-making suspect Abdul Basit Usman.

SAF survivors claimed the team had managed to kill Marwan when he drew a gun, but was unable to take his body because the shooting alerted Marwan's security, starting a 12-hour firefight that ended with hundreds of Moro rebels finally closing in and pinning down the SAF as they ran out of ammunition.

The SAF supposedly cut off a piece from Marwan's finger and authorities have asked the FBI to help do the DNA tests.  Several years ago, Malaysian authorities had provided DNA from one of Marwan's siblings for matching.

Joshua Campbell, Supervisory Special Agent of the FBI National Press Office, said any information on the Jan. 25 "apprehension operation" must be directed to PNP as FBI had no role in the mission.

Responding to a query from News5's Kelly Ramos, Campbell said: "The FBI has received from our Philippine counterparts a biological sample of an unknown individual for testing. Evidentiary analysis at the FBI Laboratory is one of the many services we provide to our law enforcement partners around the world."

Campbell added that since the "subject has been indicted in a US court of law, it is routine for the FBI to process biometric information that may positively identify a subject and his/her whereabouts," an implicit confirmation that the subject involved is Marwan, who has warrants both in the US and the Philippines.

This case, Campbell stressed, "is receiving immediate attention at the FBI Laboratory."

Tests are expected to be conducted promptly, said the FBI official, but pointed out that "analysis to determine specific associations to a particular individual typically require additional time."

Results of the examination, "once completed, will be provided to our Philippine government partners."

Inaccurate media reports

Campbell at the same time lamented "inaccurate media reports that the FBI helped plan and execute the apprehension operation," something he categorically denied.

"We do express our deepest condolences to the brave officers of the Philippine National Police who lost their lives in the line of duty attempting to arrest a dangerous fugitive," he added.

The FBI's role in the Philippines, Campbell explained, "is to advise and assist our Philippine partners on matters of mutual interest." The bureau meets regularly with foreign partners "on a range of law enforcement and international criminal matters, to include discussions of fugitives such as Marwan, who have active arrest warrants in both the Philippines and the United States."

Campbell stressed that information sharing between the FBI and its Philippine  partners "is key to disrupting terrorist and criminal networks."

Where are Marwan's remains?

Earlier, the locations of the remains of Southeast Asia's most wanted terror suspect continued to puzzle the media.

Aside from a photo showing the bloodied face of a man believed to be Marwan, authorities could not yet present evidence that the Jemaah Islamiyah bomb-making expert was indeed killed during Oplan Wolverine.

Marwan's body was allegedly buried in an unmarked grave next to a mosque nearest to Brgy. Tukanalipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Six kilometers from where the PNP-SAF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) engaged in a day-long firefight is Pusaka Mosque in Sitio Libutan where Marwan's remains were said to have been buried.

But Liputan chairman Mus Cyril Abdul denied that Marwan's body was buried in the barangay.

"Isa sa mga sitio…doon daw nailibing sa may Pusaka. Tapos kanina, pinuntahan namin ‘yong paligid…walang bagong burol doon [There were reports that the remains were buried in one of the sitios. We went to the area but we didn't see any freshly buried remains there]," said Abdul.

Mamasapano Mayor Benzar Ampatuan said there was no concrete evidence yet of the remains of Marwan, who has a $5-million bounty on his head.

Ampatuan said baseless reports should not be spread because civilians were afraid that another encounter would happen in their area. “Kung p’wede lang po sana, huwag ibalita ‘yong mga gano’n dahil ang mga naapektuhan ay ‘yong mga tao po natin, especially ‘yong mga civilian natin dahil natatakot po sila na magkakaroon na naman ng bagong putukan."

Authorities have not yet come out with the result of the DNA test on the human tissue samples believed to belong to Marwan. They did not give a date on when they could complete the procedure.

Malacanang said there was no reason to doubt the PNP-SAF’s successful operation against Marwan.

“The SAF people were there. The SAF commandos…were able to achieve their target, they were able to accomplish their mission,” said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/104304/fbi-doing-tests-on-tissue-sample-of-unknown-person-but-denies-role-in-saf-mission-on-marwan