THE Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has sent a special team to identify three militants killed in an air strike by the Philippine Air Force on a hideout of the Abu Sayyaf group on Sulu Island in southern Philippines.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Malaysia would like to confirm if the bodies were that of Malaysian Zulkifli Abdul Hir, a senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), and two Sabah Darul Islam (DI) members, Bacho and Jeknal Adil.
"PDRM is liaising with the Philippine National Police to provide DNA samples of Zulkifli's family for confirmation purposes," he said in a statement here Friday.
Fifteen militants were reported killed in Thursday's air strike by the Philippine Air Force on the Abu Sayyaf and JI.
Hishammuddin said if the identities of the bodies could be confirmed, the police would bring them back for burial.
He said police were awaiting confirmation on the two DI members, who were believed to be with the Abu Sayyaf during the air strike.
Bacho and Jeknal Adil had escaped police arrest during an operation in November last year, he added.
Bernama
Malaysia's team in Philippines to identify militants
Show Caption
Marines are deployed as an armored personnel carrier goes through Indanan, Sulu province in the southern Philippines yesterday. Malaysia is seeking the return of the body of a suspected Malaysian terrorist who was allegedly killed during a military airstrike on February 2. Picture: EPA
Monday, February 6, 2012