Vietnamese hostage found dead in Sulu following clash between Abu Sayyaf, military

A Vietnamese hostage of the Abu Sayyaf was found dead following a clash between government forces and the terrorist group in Patikul, Sulu, over the weekend, a military official said Thursday.

Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana identified the victim as Van Viet Tran,  one of the six crewmen of Vietnamese cargo ship MV Giang Hai that was attacked by the Abu Sayyaf in February off Tawi-Tawi.

Sobejana said the body was found during clearing operations following the clash in Sitio Darayan in Barangay Buhanginan last Saturday.

"Nung nag-scour kami sa area, may na-recover kaming bangkay, cadaver, foreign looking national. Tapos hindi namin makilala kaya dinala sa Zamboanga. Na-identify positively as one of the Vietnamese kidnap victim," he said.

Four Abu Sayyaf members and one soldier were killed in the clash. Fifteen soldiers were wounded.

Sobejana said they did not know whether Tran was killed in the crossfire or was executed when he tried to take advantage of the encounter to escape.

The Abu Sayyaf, a small band of violent Islamic fundamentalists, is holding hostage in Basilan three other Vietnamese sailors who were captured in November last year.

Two of the hostages' companions were beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf earlier this month while another was rescued. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK/KVD, GMA News