Philippines continues Abu Sayyaf offensive despite threat to behead German hostage

Philippine troops will not get distracted by a threat from Abu Sayyaf militants to behead a German hostage if a ransom was not paid by Sunday and will press assaults to crush the brutal group, military officials said.

Military spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said troops were continuing operations to rescue foreign and local hostages, including German captive Jurgen Gustav Kantner, who is believed to be held by the militants in the jungles of southern Sulu province.

In a video that circulated online earlier this month, Kantner said the militants would behead him by mid-afternoon of Sunday if a ransom were not paid. The militants, who belong to an Abu Sayyaf faction led by Hatib Sawadjaan, were demanding 30 million pesos (US$605,000), officials said.

There was no immediate indication whether the militants had pushed through with their threat to kill Kantner despite a last-minute appeal by President Rodrigo Duterte’s adviser, Jesus Dureza, urging them to spare the hostage.

“Deadline or no deadline, troops are exerting all effort and means in order to go after the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf and to rescue all kidnap victims,” the military command in charge of the Sulu region said in a statement.