P5 million from US government
text & photo HADER GLANG
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Paul Jones and
Philippine government officials, Chief State Prosecutor
Jovencio Zunio, Southern Command deputy chief Brig.
Gen. Francisco Calleleo and RADM Tirso Danga, hold
press conference with local journalists following the
turnover of P5 million to an Abu Sayyaf informant.
An informant received Tuesday a reward of $100,000 from the US government for information that led to the capture of an Al Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf member who took part in the kidnappings of three Americans and 17 Filipinos at the Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan on May 27, 2001.
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Paul W. Jones and officials from The Rewards for Justice Program handed the masked man a suitcase with P5.245 million in cash at a ceremony inside the tightly guarded Southern Command military headquarters in Camp Navarro, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City.
“We will pay out $100,000 US dollars (approximately P5.2 million pesos) to a courageous Filipino citizen. Because of the information this individual provided, the Philippines is a safer place. We hope and expect there will be many more works in the future as we confront and defeat terrorism together,” Jones said prior to the turnover.
“We hope that inspired by this example, others will make a similar commitment to step forward and bring to justice Khadaffy Janjalani, Abu Solaiman, Isnilon Hapilun and the other known terrorists so that we can forever end the Abu Sayyaf group, Jemaah Islamiyah and other terrorist organizations,” he added.
Chief State Prosecutor Jovencio Zunio, RADM Tirso Danga of the Philippine Navy, Brig. Gen. Francisco Calleleo, Southcom deputy commander, and other top military officials represented the Philippine government in the ceremony, witnessed by US military officials involved in the upcoming joint RP-US Balikatan exercises in Sulu next month.
“The cooperation they (US officials) are extending to us is a positive step, which everyone of us, most especially from the Department of Justice welcomes. We hope to see more collaborative efforts in working together to meet this threat. We look forward for a more opportunities to find real and practical solutions,” Zunio said.
Toting Craft Hanno also known as Zacaria, one of the original Dos Palmas kidnappers, was first arrested on Basilan in May 2002, but escaped during a massive jailbreak on April 10, 2004. He was recaptured on January 6, 2005 on an island off Sacol Island in Zamboanga City.
US federal court indicted Hanno for the kidnapping of four American citizens, Jeffrey Schilling, missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, and Guillermo Sobero, and Mr. Burnham’s and Sobero’s subsequent murders.
Burnham’s wife Gracia described Hanno in her book, In The Presence Of My Enemies, as fun-loving and Solaiman’s assistant. The book says Hanno is one of the original trio to abduct the Americans and left due to sickness in late September 2001.
At a press conference with defense beat reporters at Southcom’s military headquarters following his capture last year, Hanno admitted, “I was the one who took Gracia. I barged into the cottage with four of my companions.”
Philippine courts convicted and sentenced Hanno to death in August 2004 for his role in the June 2 siege in a hospital in Lamitan, Basilan and in February 2005 for his role in the Dos Palmas kidnappings. He remains in the military custody awaiting the execution of his death sentence.
Last October 26, 2004, US government also handed three Filipino informants a reward of $1 million (over P52 million) for information that led to the killing of Hamsiraji Sali, one of the key leaders of the Abu Sayyaf group slain in a raid by government troops on his hideout in Basilan.
The Rewards for Justice Program has distributed $56 million to 35 people all over the world who have helped track down suspected terrorists or prevent terrorist acts since 1984. A reward of $5 million is being offered under this program for information leading to the capture of Abu Sayyaf top leaders. A reward of $25 million is also offered for the capture of Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
The program played a significant role in the arrest of international terrorist Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Through this program, thousands of innocent lives around the world have been saved through the prevention of terrorist attacks, US officials said. (ZS)
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Paul W. Jones and officials from The Rewards for Justice Program handed the masked man a suitcase with P5.245 million in cash at a ceremony inside the tightly guarded Southern Command military headquarters in Camp Navarro, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City.
“We will pay out $100,000 US dollars (approximately P5.2 million pesos) to a courageous Filipino citizen. Because of the information this individual provided, the Philippines is a safer place. We hope and expect there will be many more works in the future as we confront and defeat terrorism together,” Jones said prior to the turnover.
“We hope that inspired by this example, others will make a similar commitment to step forward and bring to justice Khadaffy Janjalani, Abu Solaiman, Isnilon Hapilun and the other known terrorists so that we can forever end the Abu Sayyaf group, Jemaah Islamiyah and other terrorist organizations,” he added.
Chief State Prosecutor Jovencio Zunio, RADM Tirso Danga of the Philippine Navy, Brig. Gen. Francisco Calleleo, Southcom deputy commander, and other top military officials represented the Philippine government in the ceremony, witnessed by US military officials involved in the upcoming joint RP-US Balikatan exercises in Sulu next month.
“The cooperation they (US officials) are extending to us is a positive step, which everyone of us, most especially from the Department of Justice welcomes. We hope to see more collaborative efforts in working together to meet this threat. We look forward for a more opportunities to find real and practical solutions,” Zunio said.
Toting Craft Hanno also known as Zacaria, one of the original Dos Palmas kidnappers, was first arrested on Basilan in May 2002, but escaped during a massive jailbreak on April 10, 2004. He was recaptured on January 6, 2005 on an island off Sacol Island in Zamboanga City.
US federal court indicted Hanno for the kidnapping of four American citizens, Jeffrey Schilling, missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, and Guillermo Sobero, and Mr. Burnham’s and Sobero’s subsequent murders.
Burnham’s wife Gracia described Hanno in her book, In The Presence Of My Enemies, as fun-loving and Solaiman’s assistant. The book says Hanno is one of the original trio to abduct the Americans and left due to sickness in late September 2001.
At a press conference with defense beat reporters at Southcom’s military headquarters following his capture last year, Hanno admitted, “I was the one who took Gracia. I barged into the cottage with four of my companions.”
Philippine courts convicted and sentenced Hanno to death in August 2004 for his role in the June 2 siege in a hospital in Lamitan, Basilan and in February 2005 for his role in the Dos Palmas kidnappings. He remains in the military custody awaiting the execution of his death sentence.
Last October 26, 2004, US government also handed three Filipino informants a reward of $1 million (over P52 million) for information that led to the killing of Hamsiraji Sali, one of the key leaders of the Abu Sayyaf group slain in a raid by government troops on his hideout in Basilan.
The Rewards for Justice Program has distributed $56 million to 35 people all over the world who have helped track down suspected terrorists or prevent terrorist acts since 1984. A reward of $5 million is being offered under this program for information leading to the capture of Abu Sayyaf top leaders. A reward of $25 million is also offered for the capture of Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
The program played a significant role in the arrest of international terrorist Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Through this program, thousands of innocent lives around the world have been saved through the prevention of terrorist attacks, US officials said. (ZS)
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