Cops won’t confirm yet beheading of Malaysian

The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines would wait for conclusive forensics results—rather than help fuel speculation—before confirming if the head recovered in Sulu earlier in the week was that of Malaysian Bernard Ghen Ted Fen.

Fen was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf group last May.

In a briefing in Pasay City on Thursday, PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said the Crime Laboratory of Police Regional Office-ARMM took on the task of identifying the remains.

“At this point, we cannot conclusively establish the identity of the human remains,” Mayor said, explaining that he hoped to “preclude undue speculation and inaccuracy in reporting… pending official scientific findings.”

AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla echoed Mayor’s sentiment, saying that the government was being “prudent” in releasing any information regarding the kidnapped Malaysian victim.

“We cannot give any confirmation because we need proof,” Padilla said referring to the identity of the victim. “That proof needs to come from agencies tasked with that duty. The PNP [Scene of the Crime Operatives] and forensics lab will determine if [the remains were that of Fen]… It is logical and prudent for us to wait for them,” Padilla said.

Around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, police found a package on Marina St., Barangay Walled City in Jolo, marked “Bernard Ghen Ted Fen.” It contained a severed human head, Mayor said.

Around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, a headless body was found in Barangay Kagay, Indanan, Sulu.

According to Capt. Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson of Joint Task Force Zambasulta, the military received a false report that the headless body was that of the kidnapped Malaysian.

It turned out to be the remains of another victim, Trinidad said.

“Our efforts to find the body are still ongoing,” he said.  Jaymee T. Gamil, with reports from Julie M. Aurelio and Leila B. Salaverria