MANILA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine military is verifying reports that Islamic militants have killed a German hostage after authorities failed to pay ransom, a military spokesman said Sunday.
Col. Edgard Arevalo said that an informant has told the military that Juergen Kantner was beheaded somewhere in Indanan town in the southern province of Sulu.
"There was an unconfirmed report that (Kantner) was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf (bandits). But we are still validating this report," Arevalo said.
A team has been sent to Indanan to verify the unconfirmed report that Kantner was killed around 3:30 p.m., he said.
"Our operating units on the ground are still on the search and rescue mode. Pending confirmation, we defer from making any further comments," Arevalo said.
The Abu Sayyaf group abducted Kantner, 70, in November last year when he was sailing with his wife Sabine Merz on a yacht on Malaysian waters.
Merz was shot dead by the abductors, according to the military.
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