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DNA test confirms Marwan's death –source
(Updated 8:35 p.m.) Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, the main target in the January 25 police operations in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, is confirmed dead, a television report said Wednesday.
Citing a reliable source, a report on "24 Oras" said the DNA sample from a body found at the site of the operation matched that of Marwan's based on test conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
A photo exclusively released to GMA News by a SAF commando from the 84th Seaborne Force showed a bloodied cadaver, said to be that of Marwan, with an index finger missing.
A photo exclusively released to GMA News by a SAF commando from the 84th Seaborne Force showed a bloodied cadaver, said to be that of Marwan, with an index finger missing.
Marwan, described as Southeast Asia's Osama bin Laden, was one of the most wanted terrorists of the FBI. He was blamed for many bombing incidents in the region, including the one in Bali, Indonesia, in 2002.
The FBI, which offered $5 million for information leading to Marwan's arrest, has earlier confirmed receiving a biological sample from the Philippines following the operation in Mamasapano, the report said.
Mamasapano clash
The FBI, which offered $5 million for information leading to Marwan's arrest, has earlier confirmed receiving a biological sample from the Philippines following the operation in Mamasapano, the report said.
Mamasapano clash
Philippine government authorities have been firm on their position that Marwan was killed in the Mamasapano operation, which also left 44 elite policemen dead after they clashed with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) combatants in the area.
According to the preliminary report of the national police's Board of Inquiry that is looking into the clash, Marwan detonated booby traps around his safehouse when he sensed the presence of SAF commandos on the morning of January 25. The commandos, however, were able to shoot him dead.
The commandos then took a picture of his body and cut off a finger for DNA analysis and identification.
The clash with the MILF, however, shattered a three-year ceasefire between Philippine police and the Moro group and dealt a temporary setback to the ongoing peace talks.
The assault
According to one SAF commando who was part of the mission, the assault team of the 84th Seaborne Force rode a truck full of corn at 9 p.m. of January 24 to get to Mamasapano town. They were supposed to get Marwan at 3 a.m. before the Islamic morning prayer. A second SAF team, however, was delayed while crossing a river.
At 4 a.m. the next day, the 13-men team decided to pursue the mission without the others.
"4 a.m. na pero 13 pa lang kami nakakatawid ng ilog, kaya nag-decide kami kanain na namin. Kahit si Marwan na lang makuha kasi mag-uumaga na. Aalis na sila para magsimba," he told GMA News.
When the team reached Marwan's safehouse, the terrorist allegedly set off booby traps, but these failed to stop the SAF troopers, who managed to kill four people, including two women, inside the hut.
"Sa engagement sa kubo ni Marwan, alam ko apat patay doon. Dalawang babae, asawa niya 'yung isa. 'Yung isang lalaki, kapatid ng isang kumander doon," the SAF officer said.
The other terrorist SAF was after, Filipino bomb maker and Abu Sayyaf member Abdul Basit Usman, who lived near Marwan's hut, also fired shots toward the SAF men but he managed to escape with his guards and two Indonesians.
Surrounded
Shortly after that exchange of fire, the SAF commandos found themselves surrounded by fully armed BIFF members.
From their location, the 84th Seaborne Force could hear their colleagues from the 55th Special Action Company, which served as the blocking force, asking for help from a distance. The blocking team was positioned in a cornfield where 35 dead SAF commandos were later found.
"Imposible na mabuhay. 'Yun na 'yung feeling namin noon. Dinadaanan na lang namin sa dami ng mapatay para at least makatabla... Alam na namin noong time na 'yun, mamamatay na kami," the SAF commando interviewed by GMA News said.
Most of the shots fired towards the SAF members were from M203 and .60 caliber guns. Some policemen were hit in the head.
The SAF officer said to GMA News that they did not leave their fallen and injured comrades.
"Usapan na namin, patay o buhay, sama-sama kami, walang iwanan kasi alam na namin na ganoong ang mangyayari," he said.
Afternoon arrived but no reinforcements came, according to the SAF member. Some 300 SAF police officers were deployed for the operation, but only 70 were near the target area.
"70 plus lang nasa loob, the rest nasa labas sa highway. Ano babantayan nila doon? Ayaw nila pumasok? 'Yun ang 'di ko na masasagot. Bakit 'di nila kami tinulungan sa loob [samantalang ang] ganda ng communication namin sa kanila, lakas ng signal sa loob," he said. —Trisha Macas and Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/KBK, GMA News
According to the preliminary report of the national police's Board of Inquiry that is looking into the clash, Marwan detonated booby traps around his safehouse when he sensed the presence of SAF commandos on the morning of January 25. The commandos, however, were able to shoot him dead.
The commandos then took a picture of his body and cut off a finger for DNA analysis and identification.
The clash with the MILF, however, shattered a three-year ceasefire between Philippine police and the Moro group and dealt a temporary setback to the ongoing peace talks.
The assault
According to one SAF commando who was part of the mission, the assault team of the 84th Seaborne Force rode a truck full of corn at 9 p.m. of January 24 to get to Mamasapano town. They were supposed to get Marwan at 3 a.m. before the Islamic morning prayer. A second SAF team, however, was delayed while crossing a river.
At 4 a.m. the next day, the 13-men team decided to pursue the mission without the others.
"4 a.m. na pero 13 pa lang kami nakakatawid ng ilog, kaya nag-decide kami kanain na namin. Kahit si Marwan na lang makuha kasi mag-uumaga na. Aalis na sila para magsimba," he told GMA News.
When the team reached Marwan's safehouse, the terrorist allegedly set off booby traps, but these failed to stop the SAF troopers, who managed to kill four people, including two women, inside the hut.
"Sa engagement sa kubo ni Marwan, alam ko apat patay doon. Dalawang babae, asawa niya 'yung isa. 'Yung isang lalaki, kapatid ng isang kumander doon," the SAF officer said.
The other terrorist SAF was after, Filipino bomb maker and Abu Sayyaf member Abdul Basit Usman, who lived near Marwan's hut, also fired shots toward the SAF men but he managed to escape with his guards and two Indonesians.
Surrounded
Shortly after that exchange of fire, the SAF commandos found themselves surrounded by fully armed BIFF members.
From their location, the 84th Seaborne Force could hear their colleagues from the 55th Special Action Company, which served as the blocking force, asking for help from a distance. The blocking team was positioned in a cornfield where 35 dead SAF commandos were later found.
"Imposible na mabuhay. 'Yun na 'yung feeling namin noon. Dinadaanan na lang namin sa dami ng mapatay para at least makatabla... Alam na namin noong time na 'yun, mamamatay na kami," the SAF commando interviewed by GMA News said.
Most of the shots fired towards the SAF members were from M203 and .60 caliber guns. Some policemen were hit in the head.
The SAF officer said to GMA News that they did not leave their fallen and injured comrades.
"Usapan na namin, patay o buhay, sama-sama kami, walang iwanan kasi alam na namin na ganoong ang mangyayari," he said.
Afternoon arrived but no reinforcements came, according to the SAF member. Some 300 SAF police officers were deployed for the operation, but only 70 were near the target area.
"70 plus lang nasa loob, the rest nasa labas sa highway. Ano babantayan nila doon? Ayaw nila pumasok? 'Yun ang 'di ko na masasagot. Bakit 'di nila kami tinulungan sa loob [samantalang ang] ganda ng communication namin sa kanila, lakas ng signal sa loob," he said. —Trisha Macas and Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/KBK, GMA News
Tags: marwan, mamasapanoclash
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