Militants behead kidnapped Philippine soldier

REUTERS, 23RD APRIL, 2017 -

A Filipino soldier kidnapped last week in the southern Philippines by Abu Sayyaf militants was found beheaded, the military said on Sunday, hours after government troops killed three more members of the Islamic State-linked group in a clash elsewhere.

The head of Sergeant Anni Siraji of the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion was found 50 metres away from his body in Patikul town in Sulu, Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said.

Sobejana said Siraji was probably abducted and executed because of his involvement in peace initiatives in Sulu.

“He is involved in peace efforts. He is not actually a combatant.