The United States is offering a reward of up to $5 million or more than P214 million for information that would lead to the capture of an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist reportedly hiding in the southern Philippines for almost eight years, a regional military spokesman said Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, said that the US Rewards for Justice Program is requesting the Filipino public's help in finding Zulkifli Abdhir, who was placed on the US State Department's most wanted list in 2003.
He said that Abdhir, who was indicted by a US federal court on terrorism-related charges, was a senior member of criminal groups in the southern Philippines which have links to the international terrorist network al Qaeda.
"His group's operations indicate he has no regard for any lives - whether foreigners, Filipinos or religious affiliation," said Cabangbang.
Cabangbang said that reports reaching them indicate that Abdhir has been hiding in the southern Philippines since August of 2003.
Abdhir, who is considered by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation as armed and dangerous, is a Malaysian citizen who stands at 168 cm and weighs 55 kg.
He reportedly has black hair, brown eyes, and a slim build. Cabangbang said he has been known to go by the aliases of Marwan, Zulkifli Abd Hir and Zulkifli Bin Abdul Hir.
Cabangbang said the US Rewards for Justice Program prioritizes maintaining the anonymity of their sources. — with Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ
