PNP conducting forensics on beheaded Malaysian

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is still conducting forensic tests on the severed head and headless body of a purported Malaysian national which were found in separate locations in Sulu a few days ago.

Police security forces in Jolo, Sulu recovered an abandoned package with markings Bernard Then Ted Fen on Tuesday night. The said package contains an unidentified severed human head, according to PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor.

On Wednesday afternoon, a headless body as recovered in Indanan, Sulu.

"Both human remains are now being examined by the Crime Laboratory of Police Regional Office-ARMM for identification," Mayor said.

Mayor said in a press conference that Bernard Then, a Malaysian national, was abducted by Abu Sayyaf Group bandits last May during a raid in Sandakan, Malaysia.

"Pending official scientific findings, at this point we cannot conclusively establish the identity of these human remains to preclude undue speculation and inaccuracy in reporting," the PNP spokesperson said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has condemned the killing of the said Malaysian national.

"I, the government, and all Malaysians are shocked and sickened by the murder of our countryman Bernard Then and we condemn it in its strongest terms," Najib said in a statement.

Razak called on Philippine authorities to take action against "those who have perpetrated this savage and barbaric act and ensure that they are brought to justice." - with reports from Associated Press

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