The chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Affairs Office (AFP-PAO) said that the military leadership is confident that government troops can rescue German hostage Jurgen Kantner before his reported execution at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo said that government troops are working doubly hard to find the location of the kidnappers and the kidnap victim.
“We are still confident, the Chief of Staff (General Eduardo Año) says, we are still confident that we will be able to do it (rescue him),” Arevalo said.
November of last year, Kantner was sailing with his wife Sabine Merz near Tanjong Luuk Pisuk in Sabah, Malaysia when they were first abducted. His wife’s body was found inside the abandoned light sky blue yacht “Rockall” bearing a German Flag, with a gunshot wound that lead to her death.
Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Muamar Askali “Abu Rami” on Tuesday announced that if the R30 million demand won’t be given, Kantner is scheduled to be beheaded this weekend.
Guarded by four heavily armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in a two-minute and 19-second video, Kantner was seen kneeling and airing his appeal in his native German language while an unidentified man was aiming a jungle bolo to his neck.
Army Colonel Cirilito Sobejana, said that they have enough forces to rescue the kidnap victim but admitted that they cannot do it alone.
Honestly, we need the support also of the civilians particularly the communities where the victim was taken.
Understandably they have a very, so many friends in the community so we are trying to find a way on how to recover him safely,” said Sobejana. (FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD)