Missing Navy intelligence officer found dead in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Navy search and recovery team recovered yesterday the cadaver of a junior intelligence officer who was reported missing in action with two other elite troopers Wednesday after an offshore gunbattle with suspected extremists in an island off Sulu.

Military officials said that search is still on going for the remaining two members of the Special Warfare Group (SWAG) under the Naval Forces South (NAVFORSOUTH).

Recovered yesterday morning near Taluk Island, Jolo was Capt. Christopher Apollo Teves, intelligence officer of the Southern Command.

The two SWAGs who are still missing are navy Petty Officer 3 Gayos, and Seaman 2nd Class Repuyan.

Teves’ cadaver was secretly flown yesterday morning and brought to a local funeral parlor here.

A fourth SWAG member who was also initially reported missing, identified only as SN2 Laguna was recovered dead Thursday.

"The search continued for the recovery of the victims," Col. Alexander Aleo, Army’s 104th Brigade commander said.

He did not further elaborate on the real mission of the elite troops.

A source believed that the elite troops might have been double-crossed by the Abu Sayyaf leaders who set up the troops on their supposed surrender.