PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was “deeply affected” by the decapitation of German national Juergen Gustav Kantner by the Abu Sayyaf group, Malacañang said Tuesday.

"I'm sure he was deeply affected as he is usually regarding those matters," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters.

The Abu Sayyaf group beheaded Kantner on Sunday after the government failed to provide its P30-million demanded ransom.

"Again, we convey our deepest condolences to the German people and the family of Mr. Kantner, and not only do we empathize but we also sympathize with them," he added.

He said Duterte would make sure that violence committed by terrorist groups like Abu Sayyaf "will be addressed and curtailed in the soonest possible manner."

"Regarding the actions, we just have to wait until we see the actual steps taken by AFP and the rest," Abella said. (SunStar Philippines)