MALACAÑANG on Sunday assured German nationals that the bandits behind the killing of Jurgen Kantner will be punished.
"We reiterate our sincere symphaties to the family of Mr. Kantner as well as to the rest of the German people for this modern-day cruelty. Rest assured these mindless acts will not go unpunished," Palace spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement following the discovery of Kantner's remains on Saturday.
According to Abella, the body of beheaded Abu Sayyaf victim Kantner was found at the vicinity of Sitio Talibang, Barangay Buanza in Indanan, Sulu based on a report by Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of Public Affairs Office.
Kantner, who was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf in 2016, was beheaded on February 27 after the deadline for his ransom payment had lapsed.
Earlier reports from the AFP stated that Kantner's body will be kept at the morgue of Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital while the documentary requirements needed for the transport of his cadaver are being completed.
On February 28, President Rodrigo Duterte apologized to Germany for Kantner's death.
Kantner was the first foreign hostage of terror group Abu Sayyaf that was beheaded under the administration of Duterte.
In April 2016, two months before Duterte had assumed office, the terrorist group had beheaded Canadian hostage John Ridsdel and on June 13, 2016, Canadian Robert Hall. (SunStar Philippines)