The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Monday expressed it’s extreme indignation for the beheading of a Filipino kidnap for ransom victim by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group in Patikul, Sulu on Thursday.
The victim identified as Noel Besconde was beheaded by the group of ASG Sub Leader Hatib Hadjan Sawadjaan at the Western side of Patikul, Sulu, about 2:30 p.m..
Besconde was one of four members of the crew of FB Ramona who were abducted somewhere in Celebes Sea last Dec 2016.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, believes that Besconde was murdered by his ASG captors because he was reportedly ill and impedes their movement to evade the operating units that are hunting them.
He added that the failure by the victim’s family to pay the R3 million ransom demanded by the group might also contributed to his beheading.
AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año, said while the AFP condemns this gruesome murder of this hapless kidnap victim, it all the more drives government forces to deliver the lethal blow against the bandits.
(Francis T. Wakefield)