2 Lanao kidnap victims beheaded, 4 others released

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities on Wednesday confirmed the beheading of two of the six kidnap victims taken by a local armed group from a sawmill in Butig, Lanao del Sur.

At the same time, Col. Roseller Murillo, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, confirmed the release of four other victims.

Major Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command based here, said those freed were Alfredo Cano-os, Gabriel Permites, Adonis Mendez and Julieto Hanobas.

He said the four were turned over to a Hadja Anisa Gunda by gunmen identified with the Maute group on April 11 in an undisclosed place in Lanao del Sur.

READ: Lanao-based armed group abducts 6 saw mill workers

Superintendent Rustom Duran, the police director of Lanao del Sur, however said in a radio interview that two others had been decapitated by the gunmen.

Authorities identified them as brothers Salvador Hanobas and Jaymart Hanobas.

It was not clear yet why the two victims were killed.

The six men were abducted from a sawmill in Barangay (village) Sandab in Butig town on April 4. CDG