7 Basilan loggers beheaded; ARMM police point to Abu Sayyaf

Seven local loggers were killed and beheaded by men believed to be Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional police,

said on Monday.

The decomposing bodies of the seven victims were found by personnel of the Maluso Police Station on Sunday in Barangay Switch Yakal in Lantawan town.

They were identified as Nestor Venegracia, 50, his son Ily, 25, residents of Barangay Lower Mahayahay in Maluso town; Berto Lacastesantos, 48; Hernando Sally, 53; Renato Casiple, Jr., 36; Rene Samson, 28; and Mamerto Falcasantos, 55.

Sindac said the two Venegracias were kidnapped on July 20 by unidentified gunmen who burned down their houses and motorcycles.

As the gunmen were dragging the two towards the mountainous area of Lanatawan, they took five other loggers.

The headless bodies of the Venegracias were found at around 4 p.m. Sunday. The bodies of the five other victims were found nearby. The seven bodies were identified by their relative by the clothes they wore, Sindac said.

Two of the suspects, according to Sindac, were identified as Pasil Bayali and Otho Dobol.

Chief Inspector Tara Leah Cuyco, ARMM regional police information officer, said investigation disclosed that the kidnapping of the seven loggers and their beheading was carried out by the Abu Sayyaf.

The two suspects were said to be connected with Furuji Indama whose rubber planatation had been destroyed by chainsaw operators. Indama is believed to be a commander of the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and is tagged as responsible in several other beheadings in the past.

Cuyco said Indama believed that the seven loggers were responsible for the destruction of his plantation. (Aaron B. Recuenco)