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27 October 2004

Filipinos Receive $1 Million from "Rewards for Justice" Program

Three helped Philippine forces locate leader of Abu Sayyaf terrorist group

Three Filipinos will divide a $1 million reward for information that enabled the Philippine Armed Forces to locate and kill Hamsiraji Sali, a leader of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group that has kidnapped and murdered Filipino and U.S. citizens.

The money was awarded through the "Rewards for Justice Program," administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

In an October 26 announcement, State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said the reward program has already paid over $56 million to 35 people who provided credible information that put terrorists behind bars or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide.

Following is the State Department release:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
October 26, 2004

STATEMENT BY ADAM ERELI, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

Rewards for Justice Program Pays Three Filipinos $1 Million for Information on Abu Sayyaf Leaders

In the first Rewards for Justice payment in the Philippines, the U.S. Government paid three individuals $1 million for information that enabled the Armed Forces of the Philippines to locate Hamsiraji Sali, also known as Jose Ramirez. Sali, who was killed in the ensuing firefight, was a leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group, a terrorist organization that has kidnapped and murdered U.S. and Philippine citizens.

The reward money was presented to the informants, whose names are being withheld for their protection, at a ceremony in Isabela, Basilan on October 25, 2004. The award money was divided among the three.

The Rewards for Justice Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The Secretary of State may offer rewards for information that prevents or favorably resolves acts of international terrorism against U.S. persons or property worldwide. Rewards also may be paid for information leading to the arrest or conviction of terrorists attempting, committing, conspiring to commit, or aiding and abetting in the commission of terrorist acts.

Since the program began, the United States has paid over $56 million to 35 people who provided credible information that put terrorists behind bars or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide. The program played a significant role in the arrest of international terrorist Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. It was most recently instrumental in leading U.S. military forces in Iraq to the location of Uday and Qusay Hussein.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)