Suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group beheaded a couple in the remote village of Sumisip in Basilan late Thursday, local police reported.
Senior Insp. Ian Sanchez said local authorities identified the couple as Abdurahim Kutih and his wife.
Basilan Gov. Jim Salimman then said a reliable source told him the man was the brother of an Abu Sayyaf member. He also claimed the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Radzmil Jannatul was behind the beheading, saying the area was a known stronghold of the terrorist group.
Police, however, said it remains unclear why the bandits would target a relative of their member.
Ibrahim Wahab, a member of the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary, found the couple’s remains late Thursday afternoon, Sanchez said.
Wahab heard at least five gunshots from the northwest of Barangay Mahatalang in Sumisip, the police chief said. When Wahab tracked it down, he found the woman’s severed head and body in Sitio Daingan.
Authorities would find Abdurahim’s remains two hours later in same area near the Ismael Elementary School, close to where the terrorist group razed an abandoned public school nearly two months ago.