ZAMBOANGA CITY – Abu Sayyaf rebels, inspired by the ferocious campaign of ISIS in Syria, have beheaded Tuesday a sickly Malaysian hostage in southern Philippines that coincided with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Manila.
Security officials have confirmed the killing of the 39-year old Bernard Then in the hinterlands of Sulu hours after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arrived in Manila for the forum.
Bernard was killed a week after rebels freed the 50-year old Thien Nyuk Fun, manager of Ocean King Restaurant in Sandakan town in Sabah, in Sulu’s Indanan town after 6 months in captivity.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the safe release of Thien was the result of successful negotiations between Malaysian authorities and her captors. Thien was kidnapped along with Bernard after Abu Sayyaf gunmen raided the restaurant and spirited their victims to Tawi-Tawi province and eventually hid them in Sulu.
The release of Thien came six weeks later after Abu Sayyaf rebels threatened to kill Bernard if their demand for P30 million ransom is not paid. The Philippine government rejected the demand, saying, it has a strict no-ransom policy.
Bernard’s head was recovered in Sulu and now in the custody of the local authorities.
Arojado said the military operation against the Abu Sayyaf is still continuing in Sulu and nearby Basilan province, a stronghold of the rebel group which has pledged allegiance to ISIS. “There is an ongoing operation against the Abu Sayyaf,” he said without further elaborating.
A military source said a leader of the Abu Sayyaf, Isnilon Hapilon, was wounded in recent clash with government troops and is being pursued by the security forces. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding several foreign hostages, including two Canadians, a Norwegian, an Italian and Filipinos kidnapped from other places and brought to Sulu’s jungle. (Mindanao Examiner)
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