DAVAO City–A military official yesterday said the Filipino captain of a fishing boat who was abducted somewhere in the Celebes Sea on Dec. 20, 2016 was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf on Thursday because he was ill and slowed down the group.
Brig. Gen Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said in a press statement released by the Western Mindanao Command, the hostage was killed “because he was reportedly ill and impeded their movement to evade the operating units that are hunting them.”
Meanwhile, focused military operations against the Abu Sayyaf would continue, said Armed Forces public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo.
Around 27 hostages are still being held by the Abu Sayyaf.
The Westmincom expressed its “extreme indignation” over the beheading of Noel Besconde, captain of FB Ramona, by Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leader Sadjawaan in April 13 at the vicinity of Barangay Tugas in Patikul, Sulu.
Besconde was one of three members of the crew of FB Ramona who were abducted somewhere in Celebes Sea in December.
It quoted Gen. Eduardo Año, chief of the Armed Forces, as saying that “while the AFP condemns this gruesome murder of this hapless kidnap victim, it all the more drives our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines to deliver the lethal blow against this band of terrorists and rescue the remaining kidnap victims.”
“This terrorist group are (sic) all the more, by their recent barbarism, fueling the desire of the AFP to crush their beastly practice, stop their kidnap-foransom activities, and restore peace in Western Mindanao,” he said.
Año said they would “never falter” and “will not rest” to protect the people and will exhaust “all means – legal and moral – to bring this war against terrorists to conclusion.”
Año instructed Sobejana to ensure Besconde’s remains are found and brought to his family.
“We continue to call on every God-fearing resident of Sulu, Basilan, and other parts of Western Mindanao to help your AFP and other security forces to put a stop to this criminal and evil act of the ASG. They have no place in our civilized society,” Año said. (mindanews and pna)
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