Criminal/terrorist group Abu Sayyaf has beheaded two Vietnamese nationals that it had held hostage for almost eight months, CNN reported, quoting the Philippines military. Colonel Juvymax Uy, commander of Joint Task Force Basilan, said the bodies of Hoang Trung Thong and Hoang Va Hai were found at 5.40am on Wednesday July 5th in Tumahubong village, Sumisip town, in Basilan province. The pair were from Vietnamese cargo vessel MV Royal 16, which was seized by Abu Sayyaf off Sibago Island in Basilan on Nov 11th last year.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the beheadings were a show of force from Abu Sayyaf’s after military operations had impacted their effectiveness.