ZAMBOANGA CITY – Gunmen believed to be Abu Sayyaf bandits killed seven people they abducted 11 days ago in Basilan, police said Monday.
Senior Supt. Nickson Muksan, Basilan police director, said the decapitated remains of the victims were separately recovered on Sunday at Sitio Campo Barn in Barangay Switch Yakal, Lantawan town in Basilan.
The victims were identified as: Nestor Divinagracia, 50; and, his son, Ily, 25; Berto Lacastesantos, 48; Hernando Sally, 53; Renato Casiple, Jr., 36; Rene Sanson, 28; and, Mamerto Falcasantos, 55.
Muksan said the remains of father and son Divinagracia were recovered around 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Sitio Campo Barn, Barangay Switch Yakal, Lantawan town.
The Divinagracias were seized on July 20 in Sitio Age, Barangay Lower Mahayahay, Maluso town by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Pasil Bayali and Otoh Dobol. The same group later seized five civilians.
Muksan said the remains of the father and son, which were already in an advanced state of decomposition, were recognized by the relatives through their clothes.
The remains of the other five victims were recovered around 4 p.m. also on Sunday in Sitio Campo Barn, Barangay Switch Yakal, Lantawan.
All of the other five victims except Falcasantos were seized by the same group of suspects also on July 20 in Campo Barn, Barangay Switch Yakal, Lantawan.
Falcasantos was seized on the same day in Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Matarling, Lantawan town.
Troops are tracking down the group of the suspects behind the brutal killing of the victims, Muksan said.
