Still no proof of Marwan's death; local exec dispels report of terrorist's 'burial'

From InterAksyon (Feb 3): Still no proof of Marwan's death; local exec dispels report of terrorist's 'burial'



File photo of Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan

 Where are the remains of Southeast Asia's most wanted terror suspect?

Aside from a photo showing the bloodied face of a man believed to be Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, authorities could not yet present evidence that the Jemaah Islamiyah bomb-making expert was indeed killed during the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force’s January 25 Oplan Wolverine that also led to the death of 44 PNP elite troopers.

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.

[Video report]

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.

Reports said the PNP-SAF cut off a finger from the terror suspect’s right hand after government troopers hunted down and killed the Malaysian national. Government troopers were supposed to bring Marwan’s body but the move was thwarted when they were ambushed by a large number of MILF forces.

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/104257/still-no-proof-of-marwans-death-local-exec-dispels-report-of-terrorists-burial