Kidnapped Dutch Ewold Horn dead in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY —- Kidnapped Dutch bird watcher Ewold Horn was killed, along with the wife of Abu Sayyaf Group leader Radulan Sahiron and five other ASG members, at the height of an encounter with the military in Sitio Bud Sub-Sub, Barangay Pansul, Patikul, Sulu this morning, May 31, the military said.

Colonel Gerry Besana, public affairs officer of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), confirmed that Horn is dead.

Horn’s body was recovered following the clash that lasted an hour and a half, according to a report released at noon by Westmincom.

Horn was believed to have been shot by his guards when he tried to escape from his captors during the firefight, the report said.

The Abu Sayyaf abducted Horn in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi on February 1, 2012.

The report said Army soldiers from the 32nd Infantry Battalion were establishing a blocking force in the area at 7:41 a.m. when they encountered about 30 ASG bandits.

In the ensuing firefight, six ASG members were killed, including Mingayan Sahiron, Radulan Sahiron’s wife, the report said.

Also wounded in the clash were eight soldiers. All of them are now out of danger.

The report said 12 bandits were also wounded in the encounter.

Adjacent military operating units have been directed to block withdrawal routes of the bandits, who brought their wounded along with them. (Editor: Leti Z. Boniol)