The Philippine military on Sunday recovered in Sulu, Southern Philippines the body of a soldier held captive by the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla confirmed to The Filipino Times the beheading of Abu Sayyaf hostage, Staff Sergeant Anni Siraji of the 32nd Infantry Battalion.
Padilla said Siraji was “abducted and beheaded the same day hastily.”
The Philippine military had earlier reported his abduction Thursday last week.
“The community he has been helping is outraged,” explained Padilla in a phone message.
Padilla said the body was found around 2 pm to 3 on Sunday in Patikul, Sulu.
The said rural town is known to be Abu Sayyaf-controlled.
The terror group has links to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
President Rodrigo Duterte had vowed an unrelenting war against the Abu Sayyaf after a German national held captive by the bandits was beheaded last February.
Duterte at that time had apologized to Germany for what he tagged as the failure of the Philippines.
Official state figures accessd by the Times show there were 15 military men killed in action and 102 wounded in action in combat-related incidents in Tawi-tawi, Sulu, and Basilan since November 6 last year to February this year. The deaths occurred during operations against Abu Sayyaf and other local terrorist groups.
