Abu Sayyaf claims to have kidnapped German, killed woman
MANILA - The Philippine military is verifying a claim by Abu Sayyaf militants that they have kidnapped a German man from a yacht and shot and killed his female companion, whose suspected body was found in the abandoned boat in the southern Philippines, officials said Monday.
Regional military spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan said Abu Sayyaf spokesman Muamar Askali had claimed the militants kidnapped Juegen Kantner and killed his companion while the couple were cruising off neighboring Malaysia's Sabah state.
It's not clear why the woman was purportedly killed, but it's possible she may have fought back or tried to escape, Tan and another military official said.
