26 February 2017•Update: 27 February 2017
By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
An elderly German hostage was reportedly beheaded Sunday afternoon by Abu Sayyaf terrorists after their ransom deadline passed, according to a Philippines police source.
"Be informed that on or about February 26 at 3:30 in the afternoon the German kidnap victim was allegedly beheaded," said a text message from the source, who declined to be named as he was not allowed to talk with the media.
Juergen Gustav Kantner, 70, was executed by the group of Muamar Askali, also known as Abu Rami, a self-proclaimed Daesh-linked terror group spokesman, in the town of Indanan, Sulu, it said.
This happened "because of the failure to pay ransom in exchange [for the safe release] of the victim," the intelligence source said, quoting Abu Rami.
It added that police and military forces are still looking for Kantner's body.
Military officials at the Western Mindanao Command said they were still verifying that the German hostage had been executed.
A video posted Feb. 14 on social media showed four masked Abu Sayyaf gunmen, including one aiming what appears to be a sickle at Kantner, setting a deadline threatening to behead him if the German government failed to a pay 30 million Philippine pesos ($600,000) ransom demand.
In a statement, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said that the military has informed him of its efforts to confirm the reports.
Dureza said Joint Sulu Task Force commander Col. Cirilito Sobejana said confirmation efforts are ongoing.
"In the meantime, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other security forces are maintaining their 'search and rescue posture' until all kidnap victims are freed," he said.
