Militants in the Philippines on Monday, beheaded a 70-year-old German hostage, after a deadline for his ransom had expired, a day earlier.
The extremist Abu Sayyaf group, had previously demanded a ransom of US$600,000 to spare the hostage.
The man identified as Jurgen Gustav Kantner, was abducted from his yacht, in waters off the Southern Philippines last November and held in the jungles of Southern Sulu province.
Government Envoy, Jesus Dureza, who was negotiating for Kantner’s life, confirmed that he had been killed.
However, his body had not yet been sighted.
Aside from Kantner, Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding a number of hostages, at least 19 foreigners and seven Filipinos and has freed several in return for ransom payments.
