IT was indeed wanted Filipino terrorist Abdul Basit Usman who was killed in a firefight with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front early this month.
This was according to the Philippine National Police, which said DNA tests confirmed that the tissue specimen taken from the body was indeed Usman’s.
In a statement, the PNP said the Crime Laboratory confirmed the relationship between the DNA profile of the skin tissue taken from the body of Usman with that of his mother and nephew.
“These conclusive test results, as corroborated by witnesses’ statements, affirmed earlier pronouncements that Usman and some of his followers were killed in an encounter with the MILF 106th Brigade on May 3, in sitio Balas, barangay Upper Muti, Guindulungan, Maguindanao,” said PNP officer in charge Deputy Director Gen. Leonardo Espina.
It may be recalled that the Crime Laboratory collected saliva samples from Usman’s mother Singkorya Dagkog Usman and his nephew Hairudin Balt Usman, for DNA profiling.
“The probability of Singkorya’s maternal relationship with Basit Usman is 99.9 percent, while Basit is paternally related to Hairudin Balt Usman,” said Crime Laboratory head Chief Supt. Theresa AnnCid.
The Philippine government offered a P6.3-million reward for any information leading to the arrest of Usman, a high-profile terrorist. /INQUIRER
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