This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 27, 2015.

IPOH: Philippines police contacted their Malaysian counterparts on Wednesday to obtain DNA samples from the family of killed Malaysian hostage Bernard Then Ted Fen, the inspector-general of police (IGP) said yesterday.

Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police were now making arrangements to send over the DNA samples for verification purposes.

Then, 39, was beheaded in the southern Philippines by Abu Sayyaf militants, after negotiations for his release failed following additional conditions imposed by the terrorists.

The Sarawakian engineer was abducted from the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant in Sandakan in May together with restaurant owner Thien Nyuk Fung.

Thien, however, was released on November 9.

The IGP had previously said he would be heading to Manila for a Malaysian-Philippine joint task force to track down those responsible for Then’s execution.

Khalid said criminal groups from the neighbouring country, including the Abu Sayyaf millitants who had beheaded Then, were always looking for a chance to strike in Malaysian waters, especially in Sabah’s east coast.

“Our security forces in the frontline have to remain on constant guard, which is why I have reminded them to always be on the alert,” he told reporters after presenting medals to police commandos who had served in “Ops Daulat” against militants in the Lahad Datu intrusion in 2013. — The Malaysian Insider