ZAMBOANGA - Members of an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group beheaded a pro-government militiaman in the latest clash in the troubled southern Philippines on Saturday, a military statement said. Two members of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group were also killed in the fighting against soldiers and pro-government volunteers in the strife-torn southern island of Basilan, the statement said. The troops were guarding a town’s water system following a series of extortion demands by Abu Sayyaf when they were attacked by about 20 gunmen.
“A fire fight ensued for five minutes (and) resulted in the death of (one civilian auxiliary) who was eventually beheaded,” the report said.