Kidnappers behead 1 of 3 hostages in Basilan
12/10/2009 | 07:57 AM
Kidnappers who abducted three plywood factory workers in Basilan last month beheaded one of their hostages, leaving his head in a public plaza for the victim’s employer to pick up Wednesday night.
Basilan Vice Governor Al-Rasheed Sakkalahul (Lakas-CMD) said early Thursday they are still checking if the Abu Sayyaf bandit group is behind the abduction and killing of Marquez Singson.
Authorities describe the Abu Sayyaf has having links to the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist organizations.
The beheading of Singson came a month after suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits who abducted school principal Gabriel Canizares in Sulu in October left his head in a gas station in Jolo, Sulu. [See: Abductors behead school principal in Sulu]
“Positibo na si Marquez Singson, isa sa mga na-kidnap sa Maluso kasama ng dalawang Chinese (We have confirmed the fatality is Marquez Singson. He was one of those kidnapped in Maluso town along with two Chinese)," Sakkalahul said in an interview on dzBB radio.
He said the kidnappers left Singson’s head at a public plaza in Isabela City in Basilan at about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Armed men abducted Singson and the two Chinese last November 10. [See: 3 men abducted in Basilan province – police]
Sakkalahul said the kidnappers asked the factory’s operator George Tan for P1.5 million in “board and lodging" fees, but the amount did not reach them.
“Na-recover agad kasi noong nag-text ang kidnappers kay George Tan, pinapakuha ang ulo, dinescribe pa. So si George Tan immediately forwarded the text sa akin (We managed to recover the head immediately because the kidnappers sent a text message to Tan telling him to pick up the head. They even described it. So Tan forwarded the text message to me)," he said.
Sakkalahul said kidnapping cases indicated that two to three days after an abduction, the kidnappers would send him a letter or photo of the victims, along with demands.
“This time, I did not get anything from the abductors," he said. - LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV
Basilan Vice Governor Al-Rasheed Sakkalahul (Lakas-CMD) said early Thursday they are still checking if the Abu Sayyaf bandit group is behind the abduction and killing of Marquez Singson.
Authorities describe the Abu Sayyaf has having links to the al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist organizations.
The beheading of Singson came a month after suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits who abducted school principal Gabriel Canizares in Sulu in October left his head in a gas station in Jolo, Sulu. [See: Abductors behead school principal in Sulu]
“Positibo na si Marquez Singson, isa sa mga na-kidnap sa Maluso kasama ng dalawang Chinese (We have confirmed the fatality is Marquez Singson. He was one of those kidnapped in Maluso town along with two Chinese)," Sakkalahul said in an interview on dzBB radio.
He said the kidnappers left Singson’s head at a public plaza in Isabela City in Basilan at about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Armed men abducted Singson and the two Chinese last November 10. [See: 3 men abducted in Basilan province – police]
Sakkalahul said the kidnappers asked the factory’s operator George Tan for P1.5 million in “board and lodging" fees, but the amount did not reach them.
“Na-recover agad kasi noong nag-text ang kidnappers kay George Tan, pinapakuha ang ulo, dinescribe pa. So si George Tan immediately forwarded the text sa akin (We managed to recover the head immediately because the kidnappers sent a text message to Tan telling him to pick up the head. They even described it. So Tan forwarded the text message to me)," he said.
Sakkalahul said kidnapping cases indicated that two to three days after an abduction, the kidnappers would send him a letter or photo of the victims, along with demands.
“This time, I did not get anything from the abductors," he said. - LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV
