Philippine military officials say a long-held Dutch hostage has been shot and killed by his Abu Sayyaf captors when he tried to escape during a gunbattle in southern jungles.

Military commander Brig. Gen. Divino Pabayo Jr. says Dutch birdwatcher Ewold Horn was fatally shot on Friday while trying to escape during a gunbattle between the militants and army troops in the jungles of Sulu province's mountainous Patikul town. At least six militants were killed in the firefight.

Horn, a Swiss friend and a Filipino companion were abducted by gunmen during a birdwatching trip in Tawi Tawi province, near Sulu, in 2012. Horn's Filipino companion managed to escape shortly after their abduction while Swiss captive Lorenzo Vinciguerre dashed to freedom years later.

The military says it recovered Horn's body.