Abu Sayyaf kills 5, beheads 2 in Basilan

LANTAWAN, Basilan — Families of farmers and militiamen beheaded by suspected members of Abu Sayyaf are demanding justice just as the number of bodies recovered separately in the province of Basilan, believed to be Sayyaf victims, had risen to seven.

“They treated my brothers like animals,” said Lucia Constancia of her brother Renato Casiple, 36, and half-brother Rene Sanson, 29.

“They cut their heads, they chopped their bodies,” Constancia said. The headless remains of Casiple and Sanson were found in the town of Maluso in Basilan on Saturday.

They were among five bodies recovered in Maluso believed to have been killed by the Abu Sayyaf.

Col. Andrew Bacala, commander of 4th Special Forces Battalion, said the victims were farm workers and militiamen who had been actively supporting the government’s antiterrorism campaign in Basilan.

The five bodies found in Maluso on Saturday were recovered more than a kilometer from where local businessman Dodong Divinagracia and his son, Ily, were found dead on Friday.

The Divinagracias were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf members in Maluso on July 20.

The kidnappers took the five other men a few hours after taking the father and son. —Julie S. Alipala