Philippines finds decapitated body of German hostage.

Philippine troops have found the body of a 70-year-old German hostage who was beheaded by Abu Sayyaf militants.

Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines. Photo: AFP

Abu Sayyaf militants, a group that kidnaps hostages for ransom in southern the Philippines and pledges allegiance to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS), murdered 70-year-old Jurgen Kantner after failing to collect a 30 million peso (US$600,000) ransom, AFP reported today.

Philippine military officials said the navy found Kantner's body last night on the remote island of Sulu, more than 1,000 kilometers from Manila.

"The Philippine armed forces continue to make every effort to bring the hostage's body back home and ensure he receives a proper funeral," said Edgard Arevalo, spokesman for the Philippine military.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte apologized on February 28 for his inability to save Kantner and said the military had intensified its offensive against the rebels.

Clashes between the Philippine army and Abu Sayyaf rebels over the past few days have resulted in 18 soldiers being wounded and 14 rebels killed.

Abu Sayyaf was formed with funding from the al-Qaeda terrorist network. The organization has primarily kidnapped foreigners and locals for ransom over the past few decades. Abu Sayyaf is believed to still be holding at least 19 foreign hostages and 6 Filipino hostages.

According to VNE