Gov't condemns beheading of militiaman in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government condemned today the beheading of a paramilitary man in the southern Philippine province of Basilan.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said Philippine authorities have already launched an investigation into the incident.

"We will not tolerate such incident. This is now being thoroughly being investigated by our authorities," Coloma said in a news briefing in Malacanang, the presidential palace.

The victim, Hadji Aldam, was a member of the Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary. He was allegedly beheaded by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan province.

A photo of Aldam's beheading circulated on a social network site, apparently similar to what the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants did when they killed American journalist James Foley.

The Abu Sayyaf Group victimizes locals and foreigners and has been involved in a number of high-profile criminal activities in southern Philippines.