No troop pullout in Sulu as Abu Sayyaf date to kill captives nears

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine military will not pull out its troops in Sulu amid threats by the Abu Sayyaf to kill its German captives.

“We will not do that. Non-negotiable yan because that will be an insult to us. Nagpunta kami dun for the safety of the Germans and if we will pull out that will be a bad sign that we are not there to save,” Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang Jr. told reporters, two days before the deadline set by the Abu Sayyaf for the troop withdrawal lapses.

“Aalis kami kung ire-release ang Germans,” he added.

(We will leave if the Germans are released.)

The Abu Sayyaf is threatening to kill Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen, by 3 p.m. on October 17 if their demands for a P250 million ransom and the pullout of Germany’s support to the US campaign against the Islamic State were not met.

Catapang said they were prepared to conduct rescue operations and were just awaiting orders.

The military deployed thousands of troops and several military dogs in Sulu to step up its efforts against the Abu Sayyaf.

In an interview aired on a local radio station on Wednesday, Abu Sayyaf’s Abu Rami said they were ready to negotiate with the Department of Foreign Affairs for the release of the Germans.

Okonek said in a separate interview that he had been informed by the Abu Sayyaf of his fate, and his supposed grave had been shown to him.

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