Informant receives P5-M for Robot’s capture

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The civilian informant who was responsible for the capture of Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, officiallly received the P5-million reward from Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the military said yesterday.

Ermita handed over the check to the informant during a closed-door ceremony on Thursday witnessed by Armed Forces Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko, top military commanders and defense officials at the military headquarters here.

Kyamko said the ceremony was not open to the public for the security of the unidentified informant who led the troops in the capture of Andang during an Army raid last December.

Andang, whose right leg was amputated, is now detained at the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

"The monetary reward system of the government is a factor in the capture of Commander Robot and other top ASG leaders in the past," Kyamko said.

He added that civilian informants and even some ASG members and relatives of ASG leaders also came out to offer information in exchange for the reward money and also because "they are fed up with the trouble caused by the bandits."

The P5 million released Thursday brought to P9.750 million the total bounty given by the government to informants.

Other key Abu Sayyaf figures with millions in bounty for their capture include Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffi Janjalani, Isnilon Hapilon, alias Commander Jose Ramirez, Hamsiraji Sali, Jainal Sali alias Abu Solaiman, and Radulan Sahiron.

Aside from the reward being offered by the government, the US is also giving $5-million reward for the capture of Janjalani, Hapilon, Sali and Solaiman, who were responsible for the kidnapping and killing of Americans Martin Burnham and Guillermo Sobero. — With Christina Mendez