MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE) A Malaysian captive was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf group allegedly after the victim’s family failed to comply with the bandit group’s ransom demands.
The military is searching for the burial place of kidnap victim Bernard Ghen Ted Fen (identified by The Star Online as Bernard Then), who was reportedly beheaded at around 4 p.m. Tuesday in Indanan, Sulu.
Citing initial intelligence reports, a military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the faction of the Abu Sayyaf bandits which killed the Malaysian national was led by subleaders Alden Bagade and Idang Susukan.
The beheading was carried out after the victim’s family reportedly failed to meet the bandits’ ransom demands.
The execution was carried out in Barangay Taran in Indanan, Sulu on Tuesday afternoon.
The military official said the victim’s body was immediately buried in the area where he was killed.
Prior to the reported threats of beheading, troops in Sulu fired rockets in the area at around past 2 pm Tuesday.
“It appears that the beheading pushed through almost simultaneously with the bombardment and rocket fires,” the source said.
Government troops are conducting pursuit operations in Indanan to capture the bandits and locate the burial site of the victim. SFM