PNP to collect specimen from Usman’s relatives for DNA matching

THE Philippine National Police is asking for a specimen from the direct relatives of Basit Usman, including his parents, to cross-match with the DNA sample of the slain bomb maker, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said Monday.

Basit Usman, the terrorist-bomber who is responsible for the countless deaths of civilians in a series of bombings in Mindanao, was killed in a shootout in Sitio Takeneken, Bgy Muti, Guindulungan, Maguindanao at about 10:00 am yesterday (May 3). AFP PAO

When asked if the PNP has the specimen to compare with the sample taken from Usman, Espina said the PNP will collect a specimen “from a direct relative” of Usman, who was killed last May 3 in a Moro Islamic Liberation Front-controlled area.

“We will request from his proximate relatives like his parents,” the PNP officer in charge told reporters in a chance interview at Camp Crame.

“It will take a while because we are in the process of determining through DNA and it isn’t with a short period of time that you can verify the identity. Let’s wait while the Crime Lab (PNP Crime Laboratory) and CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) personnel in the field are busy collating all pieces of evidence that are relevant to the determination of their DNA,” he said.

But Espina said that before proceeding with the testing of Usman’s specimen, the chain of custody of the evidence has to be taken into consideration first.

“It has to be proven beyond doubt that when our forensic scientist would confirm it is 100-percent infallible,” he said.

With the death of Usman, the PNP OIC said the 150,000-strong force would not let its guard down in going after terrorists and lawless elements.

He said the PNP is aiming to catch Amin Baco, alias Jihad, next.

Usman and Jihad were among the targets of the bungled operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao with Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir or “Marwan” who was killed in the January 25 mission. The police operation, however, cost the lives of 44 Special Action Force troopers, 16 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and three civilians.

Usman and Baco, a Malaysian terrorist and a Jemaah Islamiyah member, managed to escape from the lawmen.

“Marami rami pa ‘yan pero si Amin Baco na ang next and we are trying our best to account for all these terrorists especially those who would create havoc,” he said. AC