AFP awards P12.1 M to 4 informants

MANILA, Philippines - The military yesterday awarded a total of P12.1 million to four informants who helped security forces capture a leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and three Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Armed Forces Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. John Bonafos led the turnover of cash rewards to the tipsters at the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence in Camp Aguinaldo.

The unnamed informants were wearing sunglasses, jackets and black masks to protect their identity during the awarding ceremony.

The NPA leader who was arrested with the help of the tipsters was identified as Loida Magpatoc, who carried a reward of P5.6 million for her capture.

Magpatoc has been charged with robbery, double homicide and damage to properties. The military said her group staged violent attacks against civilian communities and government installations in South Cotabato and North Cotabato from 2008 to 2010.

Magpatoc, also known by the aliases “Gwen” and “Bebyang,” was arrested by military and police forces in Davao del Sur on July 28, 2013.

Among the Abu Sayyaf bandits who were captured because of informants’ reports was Basal Talb Sali, who used the aliases “Gong-Gong Sali” and “Abu Husni.” Authorities had offered P5.3 million for information that would lead to his arrest.

Sali was arrested in a law enforcement operation conducted by security forces in Payatas, Quezon City on July 25, 2012.

Also captured with the help of tipsters were Muktar Ladjaperma and Jailanl Basirul, who each had a P600,000 bounty on their heads.

Ladjaperma was captured in a law enforcement operation at the Zamboanga City International Airport on June 3, 2013. Basirul, meanwhile, was apprehended also in Zamboanga City on March 15, 2013.

The giving of rewards to informants was based on a joint order of the Defense and the Interior departments issued in November 2012. – With Roel Pareño