Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has beheaded German kidnap victim Juergen Gustav Kantner in Sulu.
In a statement released Monday, Dureza said, “We grieve as we strongly condemn the barbaric beheading of yet another kidnap victim.”
“Up to the last moment, many sectors, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) exhausted all efforts to save his life,” he added. “We all tried our best. But to no avail.”
Dureza said he was in close contact with German authorities in their efforts to retrieve Kantner from the ASG.
The peace adviser also condemned terrorism and urged the Filipinos to confront violent extremism whenever possible.
“There must be a stop to this killing of the innocent and the helpless,” Dureza said. “We condole with his family, friends, and loved ones.”
Earlier, there were reports saying that Kantner was beheaded by ASG on Sunday, but the AFP could not confirm it yet.
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Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa said they received intelligence reports that the German victim was already beheaded, although his body has not been recovered yet.
A graphic video also surfaced online showing a group of men, allegedly the ASG, beheading a man they claim to be Kantner.
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Kantner was abducted by Abu Sayyaf fighters in November 2016 along with his partner, Sabine Merz, while the couple was sailing on a yacht in Sabah.
Merz at the time reportedly tried to shoot their abductors. The Abu Sayyaf shot back and killed her.
The ASG had asked for a P30 million ransom, but due to the Philippine government’s no ransom policy, the ultimatum expired on February 26.
It is still unconfirmed whether Kantner’s beheading was brought by the government’s noncompliance with the ASG’s demand.
AFP: Nothing official yet
Meanwhile, AFP officials said there is no official basis yet to confirm Kantner’s beheading.
“Video is not enough basis to become confirmatory for beheading,” said AFP Spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla.
However, Joint Task Force Sulu Commander Col. Cirilito Sobejana said they have not received reports yet confirming the beheading.
He added they are going to sustain their “relentless and aggressive” search and rescue operations until they acquire concrete evidence.
Sobejana also said there were hearsay from operating troops that the deadline for the ransom was extended until February 28, Tuesday.
