MANILA: Two Germans being held by an Islamist group in the southern Philippines appealed to the Philippine and German governments to secure their release through a message on local radio yesterday, days after the militants threatened to kill them.
The Abu Sayyaf rebel group has demanded that the German government stop supporting US action against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and wants a ransom paid for the captives. It has also said it would behead one of them if the demands are not met by October 10.
“Hopefully, our government will do all they can to get me free,” a male captive, who identified himself as a doctor, told a radio station based in Zamboanga City.
“We were sailing on our sailboat and unfortunately I was taken hostage,” he said, adding that he was concerned for his health.
According to media reports, the two Germans were seized at gunpoint from a yacht between Malaysian Borneo and the southern Philippines in April.
Reuters
