RP to rely on US FBI test on alleged remains of Dulmatin

By Ronron
March 26, 2008

Philippine authorities are not yet losing hope that they could confirm the death of Indonesian bomber through the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) test conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on tissue samples from a cadaver recovered in Tawi-tawi last February.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. told reporters Wednesday that while the PNP Crime Laboratory failed to generate DNA profile from the same tissue samples due to their not-so-modern machine, the US has yet to release the result of the same analysis they made.

“That is just as far as the testing of the PNP Crime Laboratory. But let us bear in mind that the FBI has taken samples and brought them to their facilities for DNA testing,” Razon said.

Razon said the US FBI took tissue samples at the same time that the PNP Crime Laboratory did after the body was exhumed on February 18 in Barangay Balimbing, Panglima Sugala town.

The body was said to belong to a rebel who died in an encounter against Marine troopers last January 31 in the said town. The bandits were believed to be Abu Sayyaf elements who were responsible for the abduction attempt and murder of Fr. Rey Roda, head of the Notre Dame School in said province.

Razon said he is hopeful that there will be results from the US FBI because the latter uses mitochondrial machine.

He said there is no longer a similar test done at the Australian Federal Police as “due respect to the FBI study.”

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said in a separate interview that he hopes to get a feedback on the study from United States Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney who is now in the United States and from officials of the US Pacific Command.

Esperon said that if the test turns negative, “I’m happy to say that it’s one terrorist less that we are hunting and fighting.”

“If it’s not Dulmatin, then we will go on looking for Dulmatin,” he said.

Dulmatin is wanted for his alleged involvement in the bombings in Bali, Indonesia a few years back, killing more than a hundred persons.

The US has offered a $10-million reward to those who could provide information that would lead to Dulmatin’s neutralization.

Dulmatin, along with fellow Indonesian bomber Umar Pater, reportedly entered the Philippines in 2003./DMS