Gag order issued by Philippines armed forces on Then’s beheading

PETALING JAYA: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has issued a gag order on its ground units in southern Philippines from releasing any information on the beheading of Bernard Then.

According to the Philippine Star, the AFP general headquarters issued the urgent notice Tuesday night, several hours after the Abu Sayyaf terror group beheaded the 39-year-old Sarawakian engineer in Indanan town on Jolo Island.

It was also reported that the order was issued in view of the negative impact that the incident would cause the Philippines, which is currently hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit.

The AFP told its ground units and its public affairs officers to “implement momentary news blackout” and to “desist from answering queries” on the execution of Then while all information on the execution was to be referred to the Philippines’s Anti-Terrorism Council.

Then was beheaded after six months in captivity by the Abu Sayyaf, despite ongoing negotiations by Malaysian negotiators and Filipino emissaries to secure his release.

He was captured at the Ocean King seafood restaurant in Sandakan along with Thien Nyuk Fun, 50 on May 15.

Thien was released on Nov 8 after an alleged payment of RM3mil was made to the group.