Filipino militants threaten to behead Malaysian hostage, says report

From the Malaysian Insider (Oct 5): Filipino militants threaten to behead Malaysian hostage, says report

One of the two Malaysian hostages being held by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippine island of Jolo will be beheaded if the ransom is not paid, according to The Star today.

Quoting Filipino and Malaysian sources, the report said the terror group is feeling the heat as security forces from the Phillippines were closing in on their bases, forcing them to continously be on the move.

Sources said that the militants made the threat because one of the two hostages was slowing them down.

Thien Nyuk Fun, 51, and Bernard Then Ted Fen, 39, were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants at gunpoint on May 14, from a seafood restaurant belonging to the former.

They are now believed to be held on the remote southern Philippine island of Jolo by the gunmen.

It is learnt that Then had sustained leg injuries and was not able to keep up with terrorists during military operations in the island.

The Star said Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Indang Susukan was demanding 30 million pesos (about RM2.8 million) for their safe release.

It was previously reported that the families of the two victims have been receiving calls from the militants, who were threatening to behead one of them.

The frustrated families have met with Home Ministry officials to plead for more urgency to secure the safe release of their loved ones.

Friends of the families have begun an online petition to pile pressure on Putrajaya to expedite the process of securing the safe release of the hostages.

The report said the situation turned critical following the abductions of two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina from the Philippine resort of Samal Island on September 21.

The sources were quoted as saying that these victims could be held by Abu Sayyaf commander Al Habsi Misaya and another sub-commander from the Sawajan family.

The latest abduction incident had apparently resulted in intensified security operations in Jolo.

These operations are forcing the militant group to continue fleeing and Then was slowing them down, one of the sources was reported as saying.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/filipino-militants-threaten-to-behead-malaysian-hostage-says-report