PH envoy to US thanks FBI for confirming Marwan death

WASHINGTON, DC — The Philippine Embassy February 5 thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for confirming that it was indeed wanted Jemaah Islamiyah militant Zulkifli Abdhir that police commandos killed in Maguindanao last week.

The initial results of the tests conducted on the DNA samples taken from the slain terrorist was conveyed to Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Jr. by Chief Supt. Jose Gentiles, the Embassy’s Police Attache, who has been coordinating with the FBI.

“We wish to thank the FBI for its assistance in confirming what Philippine authorities have been saying all along–that the Malaysian bomb maker Marwan has finally been eliminated.” Cuisia said.

“It heartens us to know that the sacrifice of the 44 men who never came back from Mamasapano was not in vain,” Cuisia said as he expressed condolences to the families of the members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force who were killed in action on 25 January in the town of Mamasapano.

Gentiles said the FBI informed him that the preliminary results of the laboratory analysis of the DNA samples indicate a match with the DNA of Marwan’s detained brother Rahmat Abdhir.

“Based on preliminary test results, the FBI has evidence that supports the claim that the DNA sample provided by the Government of the Philippines on January 27, 2015 is related to currently incarcerated subject Rahmat Abdhir,” the FBI informed Chief Superintendent Gentiles.

The FBI said the results of the laboratory analysis conducted in Quantico, Virginia, are preliminary only and that further testing and analysis will be conducted to fully identify the subject of the DNA provided by the Philippine National Police.