Military verifying report that JI bomber Umar Patek was also hurt in Tawi-tawi clash

By Ronron
February 21, 2008

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is verifying reports that Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) bomber Umar Patek, who has a $1-million reward from the United States government for his neutralization, was wounded in the January 31 clash in Tawi-tawi province.

AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. told reporters Thursday that it is highly possible Patek was in the encounter where fellow JI bomber Dulmatin was hurt and killed because they are perceived to be working together almost all the time.

"If Dulmatin was involved in the encounter of January 31st, then it is possible that Patek was also there," Esperon said.

A cadaver believed to be of Dulmatin's was exhumed by Marine elements last Monday in Panglima Sugala town following a tip off by an alleged local JI contact who was part of the January 31 encounter.

Esperon said the report that Patek was also hurt in said incident is "a very new data."

"We are verifying that. We do not have anything conclusive about that yet as of now," he said.

Nonetheless, he said the troops on the frontline are "happy" with the recent reports pertaining to Dulmatin and Patek, and even that of Mohamad Baehaqi who was arrested last Sunday in Davao Oriental, because "that is an accomplishment for them."

Esperon said these are fruits of the soldiers' willingness "to go on extended operations," even sacrificing time with their families last Christmas "if only to accomplish the mission."

Asked how soon will Patek and another JI member identified as Marwan could fall into government hands, Esperon just said: "We cannot say when we could apprehend them. But we will tell you, we are very determined to neutralize the high-value targets."

"Khadaffy (Janjalani), down. (Abu) Solaiman, down. Dulmatin, hanging. We assure you that we will not stop anymore. We are not letting our guard down," he said.

A DNA test on tissues taken from the body believed to be that of Dulmatin will be the basis for confirming Dulmatin's death, as authorities did on Janjalani last year.

Janjalani, the main leader of the ASG, died in an encounter with soldiers in September 2006, while his number two man, Solaiman, followed in January 2007./DMS