Abu Sayyaf beheads remaining Chinese-Malaysian hostage

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Abu Sayyaf group beheaded their remaining Chinese-Malaysian captive Tuesday afternoon despite an airstrike to preempt the brutal execution of the victim in the mountain of Patikul, Sulu, according to a senior military commander.

The military official said ground intelligence validation disclosed that the Abu Sayyaf group executed Bernard Then Ted Fen after the family failed to comply with the ransom demand of the group in exchange for Ted Fen's safe release.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), said the Indanan-based Abu Sayyaf group led by sub-leaders Alden Bagade and Idang Susukan beheaded Ted Fen about 2:40 p.m. at the vicinity of Barangay Taran, Indanan town.

“Accordingly, the body was immediately buried in the vicinity where they beheaded the victim,” Arrojado said.

He said prior to the execution, the JTGS launched an airstrike targeting the reported location of the Abu Sayyaf group in Bud Taran.

Arrojado said the Abu Sayyaf immediately dispersed during the rocket air and ground shelling.

The military said based on their assessment the Abu Sayyaf beheaded the victim simultaneously with the bombardment and rocket fire.

Arrojado directed the ground forces to conduct pursuit operations in Indanan area and engage the Abu Sayyaf group and search for the burial place where the cadaver of the victim was buried.

The victim was beheaded barely one week and two days after his fellow captive restaurant manager Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, was freed last Nov. 8 after the alleged payment of P30-million ransom.

Both victims were seized from a restaurant in Sabah last May 15 and brought in Sulu as captives.