File photo of 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. AFP PAO
The Philippine National Police confirmed on Friday that bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman was indeed killed in an encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Forces in Maguindanao on May 3.
This affirms the earlier claims of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that Usman and some of his followers were killed in that encounter in Barangay (village) Upper Muti, Guindulungan, Maguindanao.
Authorities said Usman’s identity was confirmed when his DNA profile of skin tissue matched that of her mother’s and nephew’s.
The PNP Crime Laboratory earlier collected saliva samples through buccal swab from Singkorya Dagkog Usman, mother of Basit, and his nephew Hairudin Balt Usman for the DNA profiling.
“The probability of Singkorya’s maternal relationship with Basit Usman is 99.9 percent,” crime laboratory director Chief Superintendent Theresa Ann Cid said. “Basit is paternally related to Hairudin Balt Usman.”
In a statement, Director Benjamin Magalong, Criminal Investigation and Detection chief, said the skin tissue specimen was submitted to the CIDG by a member of the MILF 106th Brigade last May 8 in Camp Crame.
Magalong said the MILF also submitted a sheet of plain bond paper with alleged fingerprints and bloodstains of Usman.
“The MILF member executed a sworn statement before CIDG officials attesting that he personally took the specimen from the body of Basit Usman after the wanted terrorist was killed in an encounter with his unit,” Magalong added.
Usman is one of the targets of the January 25 operation that led to the killing of 44 policemen, 17 MILF members and three civilians in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
He was a protegé of Jemaah Islamiyah-linked terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir or “Marwan” who was killed in the deadly police operation. Usman and his accomplice Amin Baco managed to escape.
The Rewards for Justice Program of the US Department of Justice offered a $1-million reward for information leading to the arrest of Usman. AU
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