By Ronron
January 20, 2007
The Philippine military confirmed on Saturday the death of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) top leader Khadaffy Janjalani in September last year based on the results of a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) test on his remains recovered last December in Sulu.
In a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday afternoon, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said the laboratory test conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States yielded positive results on the samples of what was initially Janjalani’s alleged cadaver when compared to those of his elder brother, Hector, who is now detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is proud to announce that we have neutralized the center of gravity of terrorism in the Philippines,” Esperon said in reference to Janjalani who carries a $5 million bounty on his head for the numerous terrorist activities he planned and executed.
“The FBI test, which was witnessed by three officers of the PNP (Philippine National Police) Crime Laboratory, states that the cadaver recovered last December 27, 2006 is that of Khadaffy Janjalani, the acknowledged leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group,” he added.
Esperon said the FBI Report was dated January 19, 2007 (American time) and was received by the US Embassy in Manila yesterday morning. He said the latter then faxed a copy of said report to the AFP.
An elated Esperon read a part of the report that goes: “Executive Summary. On 19 January 2007, FBI Laboratories positively matched DNA samples from the suspected remains of Abu Sayyaf Group leader Khadaffy Janjalani with the leader’s brother, confirming Janjalani’s death.”
Military officials claimed that Janjalani was hit in an encounter last September 4, 2006 in Patikul, Sulu against members of the Philippine Marines. It is not immediately known, however, if he died right then and there, or if he spent a few days more trying to recover but failed.
It was only through the help of an informant, one who is allegedly a former aide of Janjalani, that elements of the 3rd Marine Brigade found the remains of the 31-year-old terrorist in Barangay Kabuntakas in Patikul on December 27 last year.
Asked if they are really convinced through the DNA test result that the body was that of Janjalani, Esperon replied: “Just be assured that whatever should be established have been established, including maternal and paternal lines. When you compare two samples, you will know the maternal and the paternal lines.”
He said no more second tests will be done to reconfirm said results since the FBI analysis is “complete and conclusive” already.
Janjalani’s remains have since been reburied at the site where it was recovered.
With the confirmation of his death, Esperon said the number of neutralized ASG members since the launching of the AFP’s Operation Plan ULTIMATUM on August 1, 2006 is now at least 67, including ranking and notorious personalities Jainal Antel Sali, Jr., alias Abu Sulaiman; Abu Ubaida; Jundam Jamalul, alias Black Killer; Espaldon Abraham; Ismin Sahiron, son of still alive leader Radullan Sahiron; Binang Sali; Ibrahin Hassan, alias Abu Muksin; and Jimber Gufran, alias Abu Samur.
He said that so far, the military has engaged the ASG and their Jeemah Islamiyah (JI) cohorts, led by Dulmatin and Umar Patek, 38 times already, leaving 23 soldiers and one policeman dead.
Based on intelligence information, the ASG and their JI cohorts now are no more than 350. The remaining leaders at large include Sahiron, alias Commander Putol (amputee), with a $200,000 bounty; Abu Pula, alias Dr. Abu, Umbra and Abu Jumdail, with a $100,000 bounty; and Isnilon Hapilon, alias Salahuddin, with a $5 million bounty.
Esperon acknowledged that even with Janjalani’s death, the war on terrorism in Mindanao is far from over.
“I must say if we get the other remnants like Dulmatin and Sahiron, then that should be it. But it doesn’t end there. As we said, we have to prevent the resurgence of this group,” Esperon said.
But for Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, who once commanded an Army brigade in Basilan at the peak of the ASG a few years back, the neutralization of Sahiron should be enough to cause the group to “crumble.”
“Actually, Sahiron Radullan is the overall leader in Sulu. He is also the spiritual leader of the ASG in their organization. He is the most respected man,” Tolentio said in the same press conference.
Esperon said OPLAN Ultimatum will continue to be on track until it achieves its mission of destroying the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.
He said even if the ASG will be able to replace its fallen leaders with “smaller” ones, the AFP is still “determined to go all the way after them.”
But for the military, they do not see any viable leadership that can replace Janjalani or Abu Sulaiman, not even Hapilon.
“He could be the successor but he could probably not be able to match the ferocity of the likes of Janjalani and Sulaiman,” Esperon said of Hapilon.
Esperon disclosed though that the AFP is on alert in Basilan after receiving reports that Hapilon, who originally headed the Basilan-based faction of the ASG, has gone back there.
“We are trying to verify that. But other than verifying, we have taken preemptive actions, including the deployment of Army troops and now, Marine troops to Basilan,” the military chief said, referring to the transfer of the 1st Marine Brigade next week from Marawi City in Lanao del Sur to Isabela City, the capital of Basilan, as announced earlier by Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Commander Rogelio Calunsag.
Esperon acknowledged the help of the local people in Sulu in the recent, successive operations of the military against the terrorist group, which yielded positive results.
“Thank you for the support and the information that you continue to provide us. In return, we promise you, we will clear Sulu of terrorists and we will not allow them to thrive in any part of the Philippines,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the United States government “for their technical and service support” in the ongoing operations in southern Philippines, apart from the “community-oriented assistance” it and other foreign governments pour in Mindanao.
The military chief went on to congratulate the local military leaders in southern Mindanao who were also part of the operations that led to the neutralization of Janjalani.
Esperon said spot promotions will be given to officers and men who were part of said operations.
Asked if there will be recipients of the reward money, Esperon said: “There is a process that is followed for any claims for rewards, and certainly, we will be helping the informants… So, let’s just wait for that. It will take some time but definitely, the papers are now moving.”
He said though that the military is not after the reward money for its men since neutralizing Janjalani is part of their mission.
Esperon said the series of successful operations against the ASG has boosted the morale and fighting spirit of their men in the field that they no longer even want to avail of the break that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo authorized them to have following the January 6 operations in Tawi-tawi that led to the death of five ASG rebels and a JI operative.
“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is very happy to extend her congratulations to our officers and troops in the field,” Esperon said./DMS
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