DNA samples sent to FBI to confirm if terrorist killed by PNP-SAF was Marwan

DNA samples from the alleged body of Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan have been sent to the United States to verify whether the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) indeed killed the suspected terrorist during the operations in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.

 

A source of GMA News confirmed that samples were already sent to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for analysis and confirmation, a report on "24 Oras" said on Thursday.

 

A PNP-SAF operation this past weekend to serve arrest warrants to the Malaysian Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Abdulbasit Usman resulted in the death of 44 elite police commandos, who were trapped in a firefight with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

 

Earlier on "Unang Balita", former PNP-SAF chief P/Dir. Getulio Napenas said the SAF was testing DNA samples allegedly from Marwan and had photographic evidence of the corpse's identity.

 

"Nakita ninyo 'yung picture ni Marwan na patay na. Ang kailangang confirmation kasi, 'yung picture niya noon at ngayon, medyo nagka-edad na. Mayroon 'yung DNA sample na kinuha ng ating kapulisan at tine-testing pa," Napenas said.

 

He added that Marwan's body could not be retrieved due to intense crossfire during the clash.

 

An earlier GMA News report quoted a source as saying that the body identified as Marwan's actually belonged to one of his aides.

 

If the body is proven to be Marwan's, an informant of the PNP-SAF is bound to get the $5 million bounty on the suspected terrorist's head. — Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News