PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday made a public apology to the German government and its people over the beheading of Abu Sayyaf’s hostage, German national Juergen Gustav Kantner.
“I am very sorry that the hostage, a national of your country, has been beheaded. I sympathize with the family and commiserate with the German people,” the President said in an interview with Palace reporters.
“But I said, we tried. There’s a massive operation going on… I would like to say something to the family and to the government that we really tried our best.”
Duterte admitted that the Philippine government had failed to save the life of Kantner in the hands of Abu Sayyaf group.
Despite the bandits’ demand to provide P30 million for the release Kantner, Duterte said his administration had to maintain the no-ransom policy because the number of hostages would go up, if they give money.
“We have been there and military operations have been going in for some time ago but we have failed. That has to be admitted,” Duterte said.
A video of the beheading of 70-year-old Kantner had been released, after both Philippine and German governments stuck to a no-ransom policy.
German Chancellor Angela Markel condemned the “barbaric” and “abhorrent” killing of Kantner.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Duterte was "deeply affected" by Abu Sayyaf's decision to decapitate the German citizen. (SunStar Philippines)