Vietnamese killed in the Philippines

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that another body of a Vietnamese man had been recovered after the offensives against the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that another body of a Vietnamese man had been recovered on July 12 after the offensives against the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines.

  

The terrorists in Philippines (photo: Rappler)

Offensives against Abu Sayyaf were carried out in Sulu Province. Several bodies were found after the attacks including the body of Tran Viet Van, a Vietnamese. It is not clear whether he was killed by the terrorists or during the battle.

The Vietnamese Embassy is working with agencies to complete procedures to return the body to Van's family.

"I'm very sorry to say that a Vietnamese citizen, Tran Viet Van, died during the offensives against the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. We want to send the sincerest condolences to Van's family, hoping that they will overcome this huge loss," said the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Le Thi Thu Hang on July 12.

Van was one of six Vietnamese sailors who were abducted by Abu Sayyaf in February. The terrorists destroyed the ship's equipment and captured seven crew members. They then shot one dead on their boat.

On July 11, the representatives of the Philippines Embassy in Vietnam were summoned and asked to help with the case and ensure the safety of captured Vietnamese citizens.

On July 5, the Filipino army found the bodies of two Vietnamese citizens on the southern island of Basilan, killed by Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. They were crew members on the Royal 16 ship that were abducted in last November.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said he was furious at the killings and sent the condolences to the victims' families. He called for the international community to co-operate in the fight against terrorism. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the murders.