MANILA, Philippines—The burden of proof falls on the skeptics.
So said the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which on Saturday insisted that Marwan, the Malaysian extremist with a $5 million prize on his head, was really dead, rebuffing the claims to the contrary of a Malaysian security official.
Although it never proved Marwan was dead, any claim to the contrary, the AFP said, must come with “conclusive proof of life.”
“The AFP maintains its position that Malaysian extremist Zulkifli bin Abdul Hir aka Marwan, who has a $5 million bounty on his head, was killed in a recent Philippine air strike in Sulu contrary to reports that he survived said operation and is alive,” said AFP public affairs chief Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos.
He was reacting to the statement of Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, deputy head of the Malaysian police force’s counterterrorism unit, who told Agence France-Presse: “We believe Zulkifli bin Abdul Hir, alias Marwan, is still alive.”
Citing Malaysian intelligence, the official said Marwan was “badly, badly wounded” and in hiding on the island of Jolo but declined to give more details.
However, Burgos said, reports from the field indicated that Marwan had really died during last month’s raid along with two other most-wanted terrorist personalities, Abu Sayyaf commander Umbra Jumdail, or “Doc Abu,” and Jemaah Islamiyah leader Singaporean Abdullah Ali, or “Muawiyah.”
“Although the AFP hasn’t released proof of the killing as it is still awaiting the results of the DNA tests taken from the body parts left at the scene, intelligence reports from the field show that he was one of the fatalities as a result of that bombing,” he said.
“This remains to be so until and unless a conclusive proof of life is shown by whoever is claiming that he is alive,” Burgos added.
He said he did not know the details of the bounty offered by the United States for Marwan’s head but “definitely they would require conclusive DNA proof before any reward is given.”
Asked if the Malaysian official’s claims prompted the AFP to conduct more search-and-pursuit operations in Sulu, Burgos replied: “With or without the existence of the claim, the AFP will continue with its intensified security operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group and lawless groups.”
“The safety and security of our citizens will always be of paramount concern and priority in every military operations,” he added.
The military said the 3 a.m. air strikes by two OV-10 Broncos in Parang, Sulu, last month killed 15 terrorists, including the three wanted personalities.
Officials said they were found in a thickly vegetated area under the cover of coconut trees and mounted tents. They were believed to be sleeping when the 227-kilogram bombs were dropped.