PNP-AFP: No headless body recovered in Sulu

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) in their joint statement on Thursday denied reports that there was a headless body recovered in Sulu a few days ago.

“For clarification, there was no headless body recovered in Barangay Kagay, Indanan, Sulu last Wednesday,” PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said in a press briefing on Thursday morning.

Mayor made the clarification following reports that a headless body was recovered, said to be the possible match of the unidentified severed human head found in Sulu.

The unidentified severed human head was recovered from an abandoned package with markings Bernard Then Ted Fen on Tuesday night.

Bernard Then is a Malaysian national abducted by the Abu Sayyaf Group during a raid in Sandakan, Malaysia last May according to Mayor. 

Mayor said the operations are currently focused on the possible recovery of the headless body that is reportedly buried in the area.

“The severed human head is now in custody of the AFP Trauma Center at Camp General Teodulfo Bautista, Busbos, Jolo, Sulu for preservation and safekeeping,” Mayor assured.

Mayor added that the Scene of the Crime Operatives initially took a buccal swab to identify the owner of the severed head. This is the way of collecting DNA from the cells on the inside of a person’s cheek for DNA identification procedure.

The reported beheading was condemned by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

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