Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First posted 17:18:24 (Mla time) January 20, 2007
MANILA -- Abu Sayyaf chief Khadaffy Janjalani, the al Qaeda global terror network's main man in the Philippines is dead, a DNA test conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States has confirmed.
Military Chief General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Saturday announced that tissue samples taken from remains dug up in Patikul town last December 27 were confirmed to be Janjalani's after these matched with samples taken from his brother, Hector.
"They positively matched, the two [DNA] samples matched, confirming Janjalani's death," Esperon told a news conference in Camp Aguinaldo.
"We have neutralized the center of gravity of terrorism in the Philippines," he added.
Esperon said the tests, which were sent to the military by fax on Saturday morning were "complete" and "conclusive," and no further tests were necessary.
At the same time, Esperon vowed to press on with the hunt for the rest of the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in Sulu, including the alleged masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombings, Umar Patek and Dulmatin.
"We will clear Sulu of terrorists. We will not allow them to thrive in any part of the Philippines," the military chief said.
Esperon said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has congratulated the military for the recent “neutralization” of top extremist leaders.
He also thanked US authorities for "technical and service support" to the operations in Sulu.
Janjalani was believed killed in a fierce encounter between the bandits and Marine troops in the jungles of Patikul last September 4. A captured Abu Sayyaf member led authorities to his gravesite.
Esperon said 67 extremists have been killed in 38 encounters with government forces in Sulu since pursuit operations, dubbed Oplan Ultimatum, started on August 1.
Among those killed were Abu Sayyaf spokesman and logistics officer Jainal Sali alias Abu Solaiman, sub-commanders Jundam Jumalul alias Black Killer, Espaldon Abraham, Ismin Sahiron, Binang Sali, and Ibrahim Hassan, and Indonesian JI member Jimber Gufran.
Asked who was likely to succeed Janjalani, Esperon said: "We do not see any viable leadership that could provide the same kind of leadership but we must tell you: Even if there are just smaller leaders, your armed forces is determined to go all the way after them."
Khadaffy took over the Abu Sayyaf leadership in 1998, after his elder brother, Abdurajak, was killed in an encounter with government troops in Basilan.
Under the young Janjalani's watch, the group kidnapped 20 people, including American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham in 2001.
The Abu Sayyaf also teamed up with the JI to launch the deadliest terror attacks with the young Janjalani at the helm, including the bombing of the Superferry 14 off Manila Bay on February 27, 2004 and the Valentines Day bombings in the cities of Makati, Davao, and General Santos a year later.
Over 200 people died while scores others were wounded in the attacks.
Abu Solaiman was killed last Tuesday after Army Special Forces overran a bandit camp on Mt. Dajo in Talipao town and seized a cache of explosives.
Janjalani and Solaiman each carry a one-million-dollar bounty from the US State Department.
Two days later, nine bandits were killed while four others were captured after they encountered Marine troops in Patikul. Three government troops were also killed.
Next week, the entire 1st Marine Brigade, composed of roughly 1,500 soldiers, will be transferred to Basilan, near Sulu, where close to 8,000 troops are running after the extremists.
The move came after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to finish off the Abu Sayyaf with a "hand of steel."
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