In a chilling audio recording, an Abu Sayyaf militant in the Philippines says that one of two German hostages will be beheaded if the group's demands are not met by 3pm on October 17th.
They are demanding that Germany stop supporting U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and pay a 250 million peso ransom.
Stefan Okonek and Henrike Diesen were captured aboard their yacht while sailing through the Philippines.
But with a no ransom policy in place, Philippines anti-terrorism official Oscar Valenzuela says, rescue is the only option.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ANTI-TERRORISM COUNCIL, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OSCAR VALENZUELA, SAYING:
"Of course the government, the armed forces and the police are conducting efforts to rescue these two hostages."
The hostages have been held since April, and experts warn the Al-Qaeda linked militants could very well act on their threat of beheading one of them, in order to regain prominen
