MANILA, Philippines - The military yesterday awarded a total of P27.5 million in rewards to 16 people who had provided information that led to the death or capture of Abu Sayyaf leaders and communist rebels.
The tipsters had relayed intelligence information that paved way to the “neutralization” of five Abu Sayyaf leaders, six terrorist cohorts, and five members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Neutralization” is a military term that denotes capture, arrest or killing of individuals who pose threats to national security.
The reward money was handed out during a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City that was presided over by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vice chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu.
The informants wore black bonnets and sunglasses to hide their identities.
The biggest reward – P7.4 million – went to the tipster who reported the whereabouts of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad, who was killed in a clash with government troops in February 2010 in Maimbung, Sulu.
Parad was tagged in a series of kidnappings, including that of Red Cross workers Marie Jean Lacaba, Italian national Eugenio Vagni, and Swiss national Andreas Notter.
The informants who helped the military track down Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Muhaimin Ismael Latip and Abdulla Ajijul each received P3.3 million.
Tipsters who provided information on Abu Sayyaf members Paradja Majirul and Hasirul Baliyung each received P350,000.