Marwan’s death a big blow to JI – Lobregat
Celso Lobregat said Thursday the death of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan is a big blow to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group.
Lobregat’s statement came after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the tissue samples of Marwan matched with that of his brother, Rahmat Abhir.
His brother is under the custody of the United States government.
The tissue samples were taken from the index finger that was cut off from Marwan’s right hand after he was killed in a raid by the police’s Special Action Force (SAF) last January 25 in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
However, Lobregat said that everyone, including the security forces, should not be complacent since not all of the bombings throughout Mindanao were the handiworks of Marwan.
“Marwan is not the only one. Marwan was the most wanted, but he was not responsible for all the bombings,” Lobregat said.
“We cannot be complacent. We have to be cautious and vigilant and not let our guards down,” he further said.
The United States government is offering a $5-million bounty on Marwan, who was an engineer trained in the US.
Marwan is a Malaysian citizen born in 1966 in Muar, Johor and is believed to be the head of the Kumpulun Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) and a member of JI’s central command.
He is believed to have conducted bomb-making training for the Abu Sayyaf Group.
