Video shows Marwan and Usman in alleged terror hideout

International terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, the main target of the Mamasapano operation of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force on Jan. 25, was planning a series of bomb atttacks in North Cotabato, GMA News' "24 Oras" reported on Monday.

The same report showed a video of Marwan in his hut with suspected Abu Sayyaf Group bandit Basit Usman.

The video, taken by a civilian informant, showed the suspected Malaysian bomb maker in a casually clad in a sleeveless shirt and grey pants.

The footage also showed Usman and cables placed on a table. It wasn't clear what the wires were for. A solar panel in the video indicated that Marwan had electricity even if his hut was off the grid.

 

Marwan reportedly planned to bomb M'Lang and Midsayap in North Cotabato together with Singaporean Jemaah Islamiyah member Muawiyah and another foreign jihadist. 

 

According to sources in the military, Marwan at 4 a.m. of Jan. 14 met with Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Special Operations Group, said to be a rogue faction of the MILF, and Pentagon Kidnap for Ransom Group in General Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao.

Marwan and his companions reportedly brought three improvised explosive devices during them meeting. 

 

In a confidential report that GMA News was able to read, it was clear that Marwan had close ties with the MILF-SOG. 

 

In 2014, Marwan and other Arab and Afghan instructors led five-session training on bomb-making in Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, and Maguindanao. 

 

Their students were chosen members of the MILF-SOG and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. 

 

The test missions of the students involved detonating IEDs in South Cotabato and General Santos City. But these terror plots were thwarted when Marwan was killed during SAF's Oplan Exodus. 

 

Weeks before he was killed, a video taken by SAF's civilian asset also showed Marwan together with another terrorist subject to SAF's January 25 operation, Basit Usman, who remains at large.  —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News