The Western Mindanao Command says the Abu Sayyaf killed Dutch birdwatcher Ewold Horn as he tried to escape during a firefight with government troops

A Dutch birdwatcher who had been held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group since 2012 was among the 6 killed during a firefight between the terrorist group and government troops in Patikul, Sulu, on Friday, May 31.

Also killed in the encounter was Mingayan Sahiron, wife of Abu Sayyaf top leader Radullan Sahiron, the military said.

Colonel Gerry Besana, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), confirmed that the bodies of of Horn and Mingayan Sahiron were recovered when the terror group fled after the clash with members of the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battallion in Sitio Bud Sub-Sub, Barangay Pansul in Patikul town.

Besana said Horn might have been shot when he tried to escape his captors during the firefight.

Four other members of the Abu Sayyaf were killed, while 12 others were wounded said Besana.

On the government side, 8 were wounded in the encounter which lasted an hour and 30 minutes.

Jelster Ed Quimbo, 28, who was released in Barangay Anuling, Patikul, told the military that during his captivity, he saw Horn, a Vietnamese and three Filipinos, whom he did not identify.

Horn is the longest held captive of the Abu Sayyaf. He was kidnapped along with fellow bird watcher Swiss Lorenzo Vinciguerra on Feb. 1, 2012 in Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi. 

Vinciguerra was rescued on Dec. 6, 2014 after he fought his guards and escaped during a military operation also in Patikul.

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