Philippine authorities have verbally confirmed that the head found in the country’s south belongs to Malaysian kidnapped victim, Bernard Then Ted Fen.

Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said although his Philippine counterparts have yet to put it in black and white, the matter was confirmed based on DNA testing.

“My deepest condolences to Bernard’s family.

“We will do everything in our power to bring the culprits to justice,” he said after attending a convocation ceremony at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology here today.

He added that the police have contacted the Philippine authorities to extradite the suspects involved in Then’s murder.

It was reported that Then, 39, an engineer from Sarawak, was decapitated last Nov 17 at an Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Jolo islands, some 1,400km south of Manila.

Then had been kidnapped along with Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, by four armed men at the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant in Sandakan, Sabah around 7.45pm last May 14.

Thien, however, was released on Nov 8, reportedly after ransom was paid.

Last Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican had said, the headless body recently found by the Philippine army in Sulu, was suspected to be Then’s as well.

This was based on the information that his ministry received from the Philippine security forces, he had said.

However, no formal confirmation has been made yet.