By LEILA D. VICENTE
ABS-CBN Zamboanga
The Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) on Saturday released P4.5-million in reward money to three civilians who gave the military information that led to the arrest of Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, Wesmincom chief, handed P4 million to two tipsters for the neutralization of Abu Sayyaf members Taulin Anahlul alias Abu Basilan and Usman Asari.
Anahlul, a sub-commander of the bandit group, was arrested last January 3 from his safehouse in Margosatubig, Zamboanga Sibugay. He was involved in the Dos Palmas kidnapping in 2001 and Lamitan siege in June 2001, Allaga said.
Asari, meanwhile, was arrested on January 11 by joint police and military forces in Zamboanga City. The military said Asari was Sulu-based bandit involved in kidnappings in Basilan and Sipadan kidnappings in 2001.
Allaga also awarded a P500,000 to another civilian informant for the neutralization of another bandit identified as Aramil Sulayman.
Sulayman was nabbed last January 19 in Barangay Dalican, Datu Sinsuat, Shariff Kabunsuan. The bandit has a warrant of arrest for nine counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder in Isabela City, Basilan.
Allaga said the Wesmincom, through the Rewards for Justice System program, had given out a total of P15 million to civilian informants who helped the government neutralize ASG leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani and Omar Jakarain.
A total of P2.3 million has been awarded to civilians who gave information that led to the arrest of four New People's Army (NPA) leaders in the western Mindanao region.
The Wesmincom boasted that since September 2007, its forces have neutralized 34 Abu Sayyaf bandits, 58 NPA members, eight rogue Moro National Liberation Front members, and four members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front splinter groups.
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