Abu Sayyaf claims killing 1 of 2 German hostages in Tawi-Tawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf claimed that it was holding hostage a 70-year-old German national.

Muammar Askali alias Abu Ramie, a self-proclaimed spokesperson of the group, said they were able to snatch two German tourists in Tawi-Tawi.

“Unfortunately, the other one died. She tried to shoot us, so we shot her. She died,” Askali said in a brief phone conversation Sunday morning.

During the phone call, Askali allowed their new captive to talk to the Inquirer.

The man introduced himself as Juegen Kantner, 70, and he identified his female companion only as Sabrina.

Kantner said they were taken at gunpoint at Tanjung Pisut in Tawi-Tawi.

“Pirates took our boat and they took us. We [asked] the [German] embassy to help us,” he told the Inquirer.

But Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said they have no information on the latest kidnapping.

A police report sent to the Inquirer said there was a kidnapping at Pegasus Reef, around 40 nautical miles away from Taganak Island in Tawi-Tawi.

The report from Malaysian Navy in Kota Kinabalu identified the skipper of an Indonesian vessel who was kidnapped as Lautu Bin Laari, an Indonesian. He was snatched on November 5.

The Star Online in Malaysia, however, reported that two Indonesian skippers were abducted in two separate locations.

The Star Online also said Eastern Sabah Security commander Datuj Wan Bari Wan Abdul Khalid confirmed the incidents.