Military moves in to rescue German hostages

Abu Sayyaf group. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine military on Friday evening said it has launched “law enforcement operations” against Abu Sayyaf members who are holding captive two Germans, its spokesman said.

“There are ongoing law enforcement operations. We can’t say where or when specifically so as not to endanger the lives of the hostages,” Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office.

Cabunoc did not elaborate as to what kind of law operations were being done even as he said there has been no firefight since the operations started.

The Abu Sayyaf had threatened to kill one of the hostages, Viktor Stefan Okonek, at 5 p.m. Friday but the extremist group said it received part of the P250 million ransom money it had demanded.

The extremist also wanted Germany to withdraw support for the multi-nation bombing campaign against Islamic States (IS) in Iraq and Syria.

The Abu Sayyaf claims to have established links with the IS, but the military said the local extremists group is only riding on the popularity of the IS.

Okonek, 71, and his compatriot, Henrite Dieter, 55, were seized by the Abu Sayyaf last April in Palawan while en route to Sabah.

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