Philippines Certain Dulmatin Died
Thursday, 21 February, 2008 | 15:50 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Philippines military has said it is positive that the body which was found in a cemetery in Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao, Philippines last Tuesday (19/2) was that of Dulmatin, a suspected Jamaah Islamiyah member who was allegedly involved in the Bali Bombing in 2002.

This certainty was supported by the result of tests by Australian security personnel.

“We're more than 90 percent sure that the body was that of Dulmatin,” said an officer who preferred to remain anonymous.

The Philippines National Police's Crime Laboratory is still testing the DNA of the body and matching it against DNA samples of Dulmatin's children taken last May.

The Philippines military also arrested Mohar Abais Generoso, a Tawi-Tawi resident who acknowledged being acquainted with Dulmatin but not a member of the Abu Sayyaf group.

Mohar acknowledged having been with Dulmatin's group for 25 days.

Mohar was in Abu Sayyaf's headquarters when troops attacked the headquarters in Lubbok, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi on January 31.

According to Admiral Emilio Marayag, West Mindanao Navy Commander, two weeks later Mohar surrendered to the military and said that Dulmatin was seriously injured in the attack.

The gunshot wounds in the body were also in line with Mohar's statement, in the right rib, left leg, eyebrow and right chest.

However, the military must still wait for the DNA test results which will be out next week.

“We must still wait for the DNA test result for the final report,” said Major Eugenio Batara, Marayag's spokesperson.

The Philippines military also caught an Indonesian citizen, Mohamad Baehaqi, 26, together with two other citizens, Salman and Latif Tatoh.

“He was captured last Sunday at 7am,” Chief Commissioner Nur Usman, the police representative at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, told Tempo.

Salman was captured in Mohar family's house in a Moslem village in Barangai Piso, Banay, Davao, South Philippines.

In the raid, the officers seized some pistols and firearms, 4,500 Pesos (around Rp1 million) in cash, camouflage uniforms, explosives, ammunition, remote detonators, a laptop and bomb making diagrams in the Indonesian language.

“Salman entered Philippines in September 2003,” said Nur Usman.

Yet the Indonesian Embassy has not been allowed to visit Salman, who is now detained in a cell at Aguinaldo military camp, Manila.

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