US embassy cable - 05MANILA3771

S E C R E T MANILA 003771 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS AND S/CT 
STATE ALSO FOR DS/DSS/DO/PETERSON AND 
DS/ICI/RFJ/SCHINDEL-GOMBIS 
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP FOR ALLEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2015 
TAGS: PTER, MOPS, MARR, PREL, PINS, PINR, ID, RP 
SUBJECT: AFP RECOVERS/SEEKS TO IDENTIFY TERRORIST REMAINS 
IN MINDANAO 
 
REF: MANILA 2105 
 
Classified By: (U) Political Officer Paul O'Friel 
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S/NF) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units 
recovered on August 11 in the vicinity of Datu Odin, Sinsuat 
in the Mindanao province of Maguindanao the remains of a 
terrorist killed in an engagement a month earlier with AFP 
troops tracking Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Khadaffy 
Janjalani.  AFP intelligence sources had indicated the 
unburied body may be either that of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) 
bomber Umar Patek, or ASG member Hamad Idris.  The AFP has 
provided a tissue sample from the corpse to SIMO, which is 
attempting to match the sample's DNA with that of one of 
Patek's relatives. 
 
2.  (S/NF) We have received conflicting reports that either 
or both Idris and Patek may be dead (despite local press 
reports stating definitively that Patek was killed.)  It will 
take some time to determine the identity of the body and 
Idris' and Patek's true fate.  The AFP's 6th Infantry 
Division, Scout Rangers, and Light Reaction Companies 
continue the hunt in Maguindanao for Janjalani, JI bomber 
Dulmatin, and other senior members of the ASG still at large. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
JOHNSON