FBI: DNA results indicate Marwan dead

MANILA, Philippines - DNA samples match, and it looks like Southeast Asia’s Osama bin Laden is dead.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has informed the Philippine government that a biological sample taken from a man believed to be top terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, matched the DNA of his brother who is detained in a US facility in Guantanamo.

But the FBI said further laboratory testing and analysis would be conducted for a conclusive identification of the source of the DNA submitted to the bureau.

“Although the results of the DNA examinations do not provide absolute identification, the results do support that the biological sample provided by Philippine authorities came from Marwan,” David Bowdich said in a statement sent to The STAR last night amid reports in Manila that the FBI had confirmed the DNA match.

Bowdich is the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s field office in Los Angeles, California.

He said the FBI had reported to its law enforcement partners in the Philippines that preliminary results of the DNA test on the submitted specimen indicated a possible relationship with Marwan’s brother.

Marwan was believed killed during the raid on Jan. 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao by the police Special Action Force (SAF).

Combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its supposed rogue faction the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), however, engaged the SAF in a firefight, preventing the police from getting the body and killing 44 SAF commandos.

The SAF managed to cut off the right forefinger of the slain man. This was the specimen sent to the FBI for DNA testing.

Earlier yesterday, a police source in the Philippines told The STAR,            “We have received an unofficial report that the US government found a match on the DNA sample of Marwan with that of his brother.”

He said Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina had been informed about the DNA test result and would make an announcement soon. There was no announcement last night.

Bodwich said the FBI’s case against Marwan is one of many investigations the bureau is conducting with its Philippine counterparts.

“We express our deepest condolences to the brave officers of the Special Action Force, who lost their lives while attempting to apprehend a dangerous fugitive,” Bodwich said. “Our partnership with the (PNP) is among the strongest in the world, and we will continue to work in close cooperation to identify, disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks.”

If the death is confirmed, the police source said the pain over the loss of the 44 SAF men would be eased. He said it would mean “that their deaths were not in vain and they accomplished their mission.”

Police Director Getulio Napeñas, who was sacked as SAF commander, said yesterday he would resign if it turns out that Marwan survived.

Forty-one SAF men from the 84th Special Action Company Seaborne, acting as the assault team, swooped down on a house in Barangay Pidsandawan where Marwan was believed to be hiding, while 36 commandos from the 55th SAC served as blocking force.

An undetermined number of SAF men from the 45th SAC were supposed to reinforce their embattled comrades but the MILF in Barangay Tukanalipao engaged them in a firefight before they could go near the 55th SAC team. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe