Malaysian PM condemns beheading of hostage

MANILA, Philippines - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak condemned the killing of a compatriot beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu last Tuesday.

“I, the government, and all Malaysians are shocked and sickened by the murder of our countryman Bernard Then (Ted Fen) and we condemn it in its strongest terms,” Razak posted in his Facebook account.

Razak called on the Philippine government to take action “against those who have perpetrated this savage and barbaric act and ensure that they are brought to justice.”

“We will also extend our full cooperation to relevant agencies and authorities in charge on the investigation of this incident,” he said.

Razak made the statement as he was among world leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila.

The 39-year-old Bernard Then Ted Fen, along with Thien Nyuk Fun, was abducted from the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant in Sandakan on May 15 by Abu Sayyaf gunmen.

Thien was released last Nov. 8 after a full ransom payment was made for the two hostages. However, the bandits withheld the release of Fen as they demanded P100 million more from the family.

Malaysian negotiators had been working to secure the safe release of Fen who reportedly agreed to pay the ransom.

“Ransom amounting to P100 million was paid by Malaysian negotiators to the bandits,” a source told The STAR.

Despite the payment of ransom, the bandits reportedly executed their hostage and placed his severed head in a sack and left it near the Jolo municipal hall.

Authorities said Fen was beheaded in a remote village in Barangay Tanan in Indanan town on Tuesday afternoon.

The following day, a commuter van was bombed in Davao City, where two people were injured.

Thien was the first Malaysian to be executed by the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic militant group known for bomb attacks, kidnappings and beheadings of foreigners.

Although the beheading took place far from Manila where the APEC summit is taking place, authorities assured they have taken into consideration several scenarios of attempting to disrupt or putting into unease the holding of the summit.  – Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago