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[IMAGES] US Government Rewards $US 100,000 Al Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf Informer
This is a very interesting story and photos. It is important for the U.S. governement to promote stuff like this to get more informers out there. Pictures attached.
Quote:
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Southern Philippines -- A Filipino informant received Tuesday, January 17, 2006, a reward of $100,000 from the US government for information that led to the capture of an Al Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorist who took part in the kidnappings of three Americans and 17 Filipinos at the Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan on May 27, 2001.
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Paul W. Jones and officials from The Rewards for Justice Program handed the masked man a suitcase with P5.245 million in cash at a ceremony inside the Southern Command military headquarters in Camp Navarro, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City.
"We will pay out $100,000 US dollars (approximately P5.2 million pesos) to a courageous Filipino citizen. Because of the information this individual provided, the Philippines is a safer place. We hope and expect there will be many more works in the future as we confront and defeat terrorism together," Jones said prior to the turnover.
"We hope that inspired by this example, others will make a similar commitment to step forward and bring to justice Khadaffy Janjalani, Abu Solaiman, Isnilon Hapilun and the other known terrorists so that we can forever end the Abu Sayyaf group, Jemaah Islamiyah and other terrorist organizations," he added.
Chief State Prosecutor Jovencio Zunio, RADM Tirso Danga of the Philippine Navy, Brig. Gen. Francisco Calleleo, Southcom deputy commander, and other top military officials represented the Philippine government in the ceremony, witnessed by US military officials involved in the upcoming joint RP-US Balikatan exercises in Sulu next month.
"The cooperation they (US officials) are extending to us is a positive step, which every of us, most especially from the Department of Justice welcomes. We hope to see more collaborative more efforts in working together to meet this threat. We look forward for a more opportunities to find real and practical solutions," Zunio said.
Toting Craft Hanno also known as Zacaria, one of the original Dos Palmas kidnappers, was first arrested on Basilan in may 2002, but escaped during a massive jailbreak on April 10, 2004. He was recaptured on January 6, 2005 on an island off Sacol Island.
US federal court indicted Hanno for the kidnapping of four American citizens, Jeffrey Schilling, missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, and Guillermo Sobero, and Mr. Burnham's and Sobero's subsequent murders.
Burnham's wife Gracia described in her book, In The Presence Of My Enemies, as fun-loving and Solaiman's assistant. She said Hanno is one of the original trio to abduct them and left due to sickness late September 2001.
At a press conference with defense beat reporters at Southcom headquarters following his capture last year, Hanno admitted, "I was the one who took Gracia. I barged into the cottage with four of my companions."
Philippine courts convicted and sentence Hanno to death in Aug. 2004 for his role in the June 2 Dr Jose Torres Hospital siege in Lamitan, Basilan and Feb. 2005 for his role in the Dos Palmas kidnappings He remains in custody awaiting the execution of his sentence.
Last October 26, 2004, US government also handed three Filipino informants a reward of $1 million (P56 million) for information that led to the killing of Hamsiraji Sali, one of the key leaders of the Abu Sayyaf group.
The Rewards for Justice Program has distributed $56 million to 35 people all over the world who have helped track down suspected terrorists or prevent terrorist acts since 1984. A reward of $5 million is being offered under this program for information leading to the capture of Abu Sayyaf top leaders. A reward of $25 million is also being offered for the capture of Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. – Hader Glang
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02-20-2006, 08:51 PM
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