The US on Tuesday offered up to US$2.5 million in rewards for tips leading to the capture of three Philippine nationals known to have links with Muslim extremist groups.
The US State Department announced a reward of up to US$1 million for information about Radullan Sahiron, described as a senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for some of the worst attacks in the Philippines.
It is offering the same amount for information about Abdul Basit Usman, an alleged bomb maker for both Abu Sayyaf and the regional Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) extremist network.
Washington is also offering up to US$500,000 for information about Khair Mundos, an alleged leader and financier of the Abu Sayyaf.
The US government has listed the group as a foreign terrorist organization. JI is linked to al-Qaeda and blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings and other attacks in Southeast Asia.
The US described the one-armed Sahiron — a known veteran of the Muslim separatist guerrilla campaign in the southern Philippines who is based on the island of Jolo, where Abu Sayyaf hostages have been hidden — as a key target.
“Many innocent men, women and children have been killed or seriously injured as a result of Sahiron’s actions,” State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement.
In the Philippines, army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner welcomed US help in tracking down the suspects.
“This will really help our operations because the reward system has proven to be an effective formula in the neutralization of some Abu Sayyaf and JI elements,” Brawner said.
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