Philippines verifying reported beheading of hostage

MANILA >> The Philippine military is verifying reports that a Malaysian kidnap victim was beheaded by Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines on Tuesday after a large ransom demand was not paid, two military officials said.

The militants killed Bernard Then Ted Fen in the jungles off Indanan town in Sulu province where Abu Sayyaf gunmen are believed to be holding other foreign and Filipino hostages, said the officials, citing intelligence reports. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with reporters.

Then was abducted with a compatriot, Thien Nyuk Fun, in a seafood restaurant in May in Sandakan city in the Malaysian state of Sabah and taken by boat across the sea border to Sulu, an impoverished province 950 kilometers (590 miles) south of Manila. Thien was freed earlier this month after ransom was reportedly paid.

Reports of the killing came as the Philippines hosted an economic summit of Asia Pacific leaders in Manila.

The United States and the Philippines have listed the Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist organization for kidnappings, beheadings, extortion and bomb attacks. The al-Qaida-linked militants have been weakened but have survived more than a decade of U.S.-backed offensives.

The Abu Sayyaf has been suspected of kidnappings two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina from a marina in the south in September. Militants who identified themselves in an online video as belonging to the Abu Sayyaf have demanded more than $60 million for the release of the three foreigners.