US embassy awards $500,000 to two Filipino tipsters

The US Embassy in Manila presented yesterday a formal payment of $500,000 to two Filipino tipsters for providing valuable information that led to the arrest of a suspected terrorist in the southern Philippines last year.

Wearing dark glasses, face masks and baseball caps to hide their identities, the two — one male and the other female — received the reward money for their help in the capture of Hilarion del Rosario Santos III, whose group was implicated in a deadly ferry bombing and a plot to bomb the US Embassy in Manila.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney witnessed the embassy officials’ presentation to the two informers of two suitcases containing the cash reward that was converted into pesos. Afterwards the pair, clad in black pants and light blue barong Tagalog, immediately left the embassy conference room as US and Philippine security officials applauded.

A Philippine counterterrorism official, Ric Blancaflor of the National Security Council, said Santos may have already been replaced as head of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), a group of Christian converts to Islam that has been closely associated with al-Qaeda-linked militants.  

Unconfirmed reports reached the embassy before the ceremony that the wife of Santos, alias Ahmed Islam Santos, the alleged leader of the RSM who was arrested in Zamboanga City last October based on the information provided by the tipsters, sought yesterday a temporary restraining order (TRO) from a court to stop the ceremony from taking place at the diplomatic mission.

Kenney said in her speech that it was a very special and important occasion to honor great patriots as she assured that the US continues to be an absolute partner in peace and prosperity. 

The envoy said during a press conference that the safety of the two informers was critical that no information about them would be given out.

"Their safety dictates no information about them. Their safety is critical," Kenney said. 

Asked how the amount of reward was determined, Kenney said experts from Washington had evaluated the information provided and the terrorist to be apprehended. "So it is a little bit complicated. They deserve to live private lives because of their bravery," she added.

She praised the tipsters whom she referred to as "two very brave patriots for their actions and information."

"This is to encourage citizens to come forward with information that would lead to the arrest of terrorists," she said of the money offer.

Blancaflor said the reward could not be considered sub judice despite a pending case against Santos since it was not meant to influence the decision on the case. 

"From a legal point, it is not sub judice," Blancaflor said.

While the government has no information on who might take the place of Santos in the RSM, Blancaflor said that the terrorist group still remains a threat. 

"Obviously, he (Santos) will be replaced but since his arrest we do not know his replacement. Definitely, the RSM is still a threat," he said. 

According to the US Embassy fact sheet, Santos is a Muslim convert who founded the RSM in January 2002 in order to advance his extremist goals. The RSM is believed to have links to the terrorist organizations Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). 

RSM members have been implicated in the February 2004 bombing of SuperFerry 14, the second largest terrorist attack in Asia after Bali, in which over 100 Filipinos were killed. They have also been implicated in the February 2005 "Valentine’s Day" bombings in Manila, General Santos City, and Davao that killed seven people and wounded 151 others. 

Santos and the RSM are also believed to have plotted attacks against the US Embassy in Manila and American citizens. 

The Rewards for Justice Program was established in 1984 and administered by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and is one of the most valuable US government assets in the war against terrorism, and a symbol of US resolve to track down terrorists who have kidnapped and murdered US citizens.

Rewards for Justice in the Philippines began on May 29, 2002, targeting the five senior leaders of the ASG — Khadaffy Janjalani, Abu Solaiman, Isnilon Hapilon, Hamsiraji Sali, and Abu Sabaya, who are wanted for their role in the kidnappings of missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and Guillermo Sobero, and the subsequent deaths of Sobero and Martin Burnham.

The embassy paid $100,000 in January 2006 to the individual who provided critical information leading to the capture of Toting Craft Hanno, an ASG member under US indictment for his role in the Burnham kidnappings. — With AP