DUTCH HOSTAGE KILLED DURING BATTLE BETWEEN MILITANTS, SOLDIERS

A long-held Dutch hostage was fatally shot by his militant captors Friday when he tried to escape during a gun battle in the jungles of the southern Philippines, military officials said.

Ewold Horn, pictured, who was kidnapped by gunmen while on a birdwatching trip in 2012, was killed during a fierce firefight between the Abu Sayyaf militants and army troops in Sulu province’s mountainous Patikul town, military commander Brig. Gen. Divino Pabayo Jr. said.

At least six militants were killed and 12 others were wounded in the nearly twohour firefight, in which eight soldiers were also wounded, the military said.