ZAMBOANGA CITY – The informant who led authorities to neutralize a high-ranking Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader received his reward money worth P1-million.
AFP-Western Mindanao Command Lt. Gen. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., personally handed over the windfall to the anonymous informant Friday for tipping the soldiers of the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTF Sulu) leading to the death of Alhabsy Misaya in Barangay Silangkan, Indanan, Sulu last April 29.
The Abu Sayyaf extremist commander is considered to be one of the most notorious kidnappers in Southern Philippines.
“A reward was voluntarily generated by concerned individuals from Sulu who were elated of the confirmation by the JTF Sulu of Misaya’s death,” said Galvez.
Misaya is a Sulu-based ASG sub-leader and was a native of Brgy. Bunot, Indanan, Sulu. He has a standing warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with arson.
A bomb expert himself, Misaya was involved in many celebrated kidnapping incidents/cases such as the October 2002 Malagutay bombing that killed US serviceman Sgt. Mark Jackson and the wounding of 23 others including another US serviceman; the January 2009 bombing of Salaam Bridge in Brgy. Bato-Bato, Indanan, Sulu, and March 2011 bombing of Dennis Coffee Shop at Brgy. San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu, which killed four civilians and wounded 11 others.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to the people of Sulu in helping us neutralize a high value target,” says Brig Gen Cirilito Sobejana, Commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu. (NONOY E. LACSON)