MANILA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government on Monday condemned the killing of a Filipino hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), vowing to exert all efforts to find the victim's remains and bring to justice the members of the bandit group to answer for their crimes.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Malacanang, the Philippine presidential palace, also sent its sincerest condolences to the bereaved family of Noel Besconde, a fishing boat captain, who was reportedly beheaded by the ASG during the Holy Week. The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed the death Sunday.
"We strongly condemn this senseless and coldblooded murder committed during the Holy Week. Local authorities and our security forces are exhausting all means to locate the captain's remains, as our troops continue to pursue this bandit group and hold them accountable for their crimes," Abella said.
Phlippine military said the Abu Sayyaf beheaded sickly Besconde because he is delaying the group's movement to evade pursuing government troops. The Abu Sayyaf had earlier demanded 3 million pesos (60 thousand U.S. dollars) for Besconde's release.
Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Ano said on Monday that the Abu Sayyaf's recent beheading of a Filipino fishing boat captain in Sulu has increased the motivation of soldiers to deliver "lethal blow" to the lawless group.
Besconde's execution came two months after the Abu Sayyaf's beheading of German kidnapping victim Jurgean Kantner in Indanan town, also in Sulu, after more than three months in captivity.
In January, Ano set a new deadline of six months, or until June, for the military to defeat the Abu Sayyaf. The group is still holding around 30 foreign and Filipino kidnapping victims in Sulu.
