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Troops fan out to retrieve body of beheaded German

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THE military on Monday launched an operation to retrieve the body of a German hostage beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf on Sunday afternoon in Sulu to determine if, indeed, he had been killed by his captors. 

The authorities have yet to receive confirmation on the killing of 70-year-old Jurgen Kantner, but a video footage posted at the “Site Intelligence” site seemed to show he was being killed by one of his captors.

Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa on Monday said they had received an intelligence report that Kanther had indeed been beheaded by his captors, but the report remained to be validated.

Armed Forces spokesman Edgard Arevalo said they  were seeking the help of the local government units in Sulu and the Moro National Liberation Front in locating the victim’s body if, indeed, he had been beheaded.

Philippine marines aboard an Amored Personnel Carrier (APC) and a truck guard a highway in Indanan town, Sulu province on the southern island of Mindanao on February 27, 2017, after reports of the beheading of German national Jurgen Kantner by the Abu Sayyaf group. Islamic militants in the Philippines have beheaded the German hostage they were holding for ransom, the government in Manila said February 27. AFP

The bearded Kantner was in a gray shirt and sitting on the grass when a hooded man grabbed him and slit his throat.  

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The Abu Sayyaf bandits chanted “God is great” in a foreign language after the killing.

The last video footage of Kantner was posted on Feb. 14, and it showed his captors threatening to behead him if ransom was not paid.

Military officials said they had to see Kantner’s body to confirm his death.

“Video is not enough basis to confirm the beheading.” said Armed Forces spokesman  Restituto Padilla.

Kantner was killed hours after the 3 p.m. deadline to pay his ransom lapsed on Sunday.

Sources said Kantner was killed somewhere in Indanan, Sulu, around 3:30 p.m.  

Kantner and his partner Sabine Merz were intercepted by the Abu Sayyaf while sailing off the coast of Sabah on board their 50-foot yacht in November last year. With PNA

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