P7-M Marwan bounty not yet claimed, PNP clarifies

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday clarified that although an informant has surfaced to claim the P7-million bounty from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the arrest of slain Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, the claim is still being processed and the bounty has not yet been awarded.

“Merong claimant at under process yung claim,” said PNP spokesman, Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor.

Mayor declined to give additional details on the informant who is claiming the reward saying the PNP has guaranteed the safety of the tipster.

The combined reward which was promised to be given by the governments of the Philippines and the United States is estimated to be over P200 million.

It was Sen. Vicente Sotto III who earlier asked the police officials about the $5-million reward put up by the US government for Marwan’s arrest. 

Members of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) launched the operation to get Marwan and Filipino cohort Basit Usman in Mamasapano. The raiding team killed Marwan in the operation. Usman escaped but was later killed in another encounter.

The SAF troopers pulling out from Marwan’s hideout clashed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups that resulted in the death of the 44 policemen, 18 rebels and five civilians.

A year after the incident, the PNP said the grant of the reward is still being processed at the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command.

The PNP leadership also earlier denied reports that police officials might be interested in getting a share of the reward saying rules bar military and police officers from collecting bounties for the capture of fugitives.