ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The military has doubled its efforts in tracking down the bandit group Abu Sayyaf after it threatened to behead a 70-year-old German hostage.
In a video released last week, Juergen Kantner – surrounded by Abu Sayyaf fighters – appealed to the German government that his captors would kill him unless $600,000 (P30 million) in ransom is paid by 3 p.m. on Feb. 26.
Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said government forces have been mobilized to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf group holding Kantner.
“Our forces in Sulu have doubled their efforts to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from executing their captive,” Petinglay said.
She said at least 14 battalions of soldiers backed by the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and police were running after the Abu Sayyaf militants.
Kantner was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf gunmen near Tawi-Tawi in Tanjong Luuk Pisuk, Sabah in November last year.
The body of Kantner’s partner, Sabine Merz, 50, was found on his yacht, Rockall, adrift off Mindanao.
The Abu Sayyaf has been holding hostage a Dutch man, a Korean, seven Indonesians, five Malaysians, six Vietnamese and six Filipinos.