Vietnam verifying beheading of its nationals in Basilan

Vietnam on Thursday said it is working with Philippine authorities to confirm reports that two Vietnamese sailors were beheaded by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan.

“The Embassy of Vietnam in the  Philippines is closely working with the Philippines's relevant authorities to urgently verify the information,” it said in a statement received by GMA News Online.

Reports said the decapitated bodies of Hoang Thong and Hoang Va Thai were recovered Wednesday in Barangay Tumahubong in Sumisip town by a resident, Philippine military said.

“Vietnam strongly condemns all acts of kidnap and barbaric and inhumane killing. We hold that these acts must be properly punished,” the embassy said.

The two were among the six Vietnamese crewmen of MV Royal 16 who were seized by the bandits on November 11, 2016 off Sibago Island in Basilan. One of the hostages was rescued last month.

The Abu Sayyaf, included in the US government’s foreign terrorist organization list, has claimed responsibility for several terror attacks in the country and is notorious for kidnapping foreigners in exchange for huge ransom or beheading them if there is no payoff.

Counter-terrorism cooperation between the Philippines and United States in the past has successfully led to the killing of key local terrorists from the Abu Sayyaf, but the group continues to thrive even as its members have dwindled in recent years.

Some of its members even pledged support to the Islamic State, which backed and funded the attack on Marawi City. — Michaela del Callar/RSJ, GMA News