A Korean man in his seventies has been found dead in the Philippines, after months in captivity.
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The body of Nwi Seong Hong, 70, was found at the vicinity of Sulu State College in Barangay Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu, around 10:30 pm on Saturday.
Joint Task Group Sulu Commander Alan Arrojado said the clash broke out around 1:45 p.m. Monday when members of the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion encountered at least 20 Abu Sayyaf bandits while on combat mission in the village of Liang, Patikul.
The victim’s body was taken to Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista in Barangay Busbus in the capital town of Jolo for post-mortem examination and identity verification.
An initial investigation showed the militants brought down the remains of the 74-year-old from their jungle encampment after he died from an unspecified illness, Arrojado said.
He said the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operations (PNP-SOCO) confirmed that the body belonged to Hong.
A South Korean foreign ministry official, who declined to be identified, had earlier confirmed the death, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported.
Arrojado said, however, the cause of death is still undetermined and that his body was to be transported to Zamboanga City yesterday.
The Korean was abducted by gunmen from his house in southern Zamboanga Sibugay province in January and brought to Sulu.
But the son later managed to escape after their abduction by the Abu Sayyaf which has recently been declared as a “terror group” by a regional court in Sulu’s neighboring island province of Basilan where they likewise operated with impunity.
The type of illness was not disclosed by military spokesman Captain Antonio Bulao said Mr Hong had been reported to be sick for several weeks and had died three to five days ago.
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At a few point, he was turned over to the groups of ASG sub leaders Idang Suksukan, Anga Adji, and Alden Bagadi.
