Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte apologised on February 28 for failing to rescue German hostage Jurgen Kantner from the militant group Abu Sayyaf, but insisted not paying a ransom was the correct decision.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)🍎 – Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte apologised on February 28 for failing to rescue German hostageJurgen Kantner from the militant group Abu Sayyaf, but insisted not paying aransom was the correct decision.
Addressing the German government representativesand Kantner’s family, Duterte said he was “very sorry” about his death and thatthe military had stepped up an offensive against Abu Sayyaf in an effort tosave him. The leader stressed that thecountry will not bow to ransom demands, saying this will just increase thenumber of victims.
Military officials said onFebruary 28 that they were still searching for his body, while vowing to“relentlessly pursue” the militants and rescue more than 20 other hostages.
ThePhilippine military on February 26 said it had been verifying a claim that aGerman hostage was killed by Abu Sayyaf after authorities failed to pay aransom on time.
According to the military, the group demanded 30 million pesos (about 600,000USD) by 3pm on February 25 to release the 70 year-old German hostage.
An official said Kantner was beheaded in a town in the country’s southernprovince of Sulu, adding that Philippine troops are in the area. The militant group said that it abductedKantner and killed his wife on a yacht in Malaysia’s Sabahz state in November2016.
꧑ Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that the Aby Sayyaf group haslinks with the Islamic State militants in the Middle East.-VNA
Philippine Secretary of Defence Delfin Lorenzana on February 9 said that the country is certain local militants have close relations with the Islamic State (IS).
Five people were killed and 15 others wounded in a series of attacks by the New People’s Army (NPA) in southern Philippines on February 16, said the Philippine army on February 17.
The coastguard of the Philippines on February 20 reported that pirates in southern Philippine waters killed one crewman of a Vietnamese vessel and abducted seven on the evening of February 19.
The Philippine military on February 26 said it has been verifying a claim that a German hostage was killed by the Abu Sayyaf Islamist militant group after authorities failed to pay a ransom on time.
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
