U.S. soldiers guard outside the Hall of Justice in Jolo island in the southern Philippines Thursday, 07 June 2007 where U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Philippine military chief General Hermogenes Esperon rewarded four masked Filipino informants P490 million or $10 million for providing intelligence to the Philippine military that led to the killing of Abu Sayyaf chieftain, Khadaffy Janjalani in October 2006 Sali in January 2007 who were tagged as behind the kidnapping of four U.S. citizens in the Philippines. The bounty is part of the U.S. Rewards for Justice Program and is the largest payment in the Philippines since the program began in 2002. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)
JOLO ISLAND (Mindanao Examiner / 07 Jun) – The United States on Thursday handed P490 million or about $10 million to four Filipino civilians who provided intelligence to the Philippine military about two of the country’s most wanted terrorists – Khadaffy Janjalani, the leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and his deputy, Jainal Antel Sali, also known as Abu Soliman.
U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney flew to the restive southern island of Jolt and led Filipino and American military officials in the hand-over of the money to four masked informants.
Philippine military chief General Hermogenes Esperon and Mindanao Army chief General Eugenio Cedo praised the United States for its efforts in helping defeat local terrorism.
The Philippine military tagged both Janjalani and Soliman as behind the kidnapping of four U.S. citizens in the Philippines since 2001.
Troops are still pursuing other leaders of the Abu Sayyaf, including Isnilon Hapilon and Albader Parad, who were said to be sheltering Jemaah Islamiya bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek in Jolo island, about 950 km from the Philippine capital.
The bounty is part of the U.S. Rewards for Justice Program and is the largest payment in the Philippines since the program began in 2002.
The four masked Filipinos were heavily guarded by U.S. and Philippine agents and did not speak to journalists. They were immediately whisked away by agents.
Security in Jolo island was tight during the ambassador’s visit.
Heavily-armed U.S. and Filipino soldiers, backed by armored vehicles, patrolled outside the Hall of Justice building where the ceremony was held.
Washington has deployed hundreds of troops in the southern Philippines to advice and assists the local military in the fighting against terrorism. Both the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiya are in the U.S. terror lists. (With a report from Juley Reyes)
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