The commander of the Army 103rd Brigade yesterday expressed hope that the death of local terrorist leader Benito Marohombsar, alias “Abu Dar,” will finally put an end to their group.
Col. Romeo Brawner made the remark after receiving a report that the deoxyribonucleic acid testing of the cadaver believed to belong to the Dawla Islamiya Lanao leader turned out positive.
“Positive ang DNA result but we are waiting for the report from the Philippine National Police-Scene-of-the-Crime Operatives,” Brawner said. “We are hopeful that the death of Abu Dar would finally put an end to the DI Lanao,” he added.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the DI is leaderless for now and they are monitoring who will replace Dar.
“Confirmed. It’s Dar’s remains,” Lorenzana said. “Meantime, they are leaderless and disorganized. We will closely monitor who will emerge as leader,” he added.
Brawner said troops are continuing with their military operations after the remnants of the terrorist group.
The military had earlier expressed belief that one of the four Dawla Islamiya-Lanao terrorists killed in the Lanao del Sur encounter a month ago is Dar.
“Belief muna namin, belief, kasi hindi namin pwedeng sabihin na 100 percent sure eh…kaya kwan lang naniniwala kami na patay na siya,” Brawner said.
Brawner explained that there are indications that the body recovered is Dar’s.
He said the body recovered has a scar similar to Dar. There were circumstantial evidence like the gun retrieved from the body, a Croatian made caliber .45 which Dar is the only one who has it, a tablet, cellphones, and cash.
Brawner also said that the body was positively identified by credible informants as that of Dar. But just to make sure, SOCO took a nail sample from the body which was then compared to the DNA of his family or relatives. (Francis Wakefield)