Story highlights New video surfaces apparently showing foreigners who say they're being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants

Two of them say they're Canadian; they say they'll be killed in April if ransom demands are not met

3 foreigners and 1 Filipina woman were abducted from a resort in September, an official report stated

(CNN) In a jarring video that surfaced this week, several foreigners plead for their countries to pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf Islamist group to secure their release -- or else, they say, they'll be killed in a month.

Two men speaking on the video said they were hostages and Canadian citizens. One said he was "being held by Abu Sayyaf for ransom," although he didn't know how much.

"I appeal for my life," the other said, while a militant held a large knife to his neck with one hand and clenched his chin with the other. "... Please do what's needed to meet their demands within one month or they will kill me, and they will execute us."

The Canadian government said later that it knew about the video, but wouldn't elaborate further.

"The government of Canada will not comment or release any information which may compromise ongoing efforts or endanger the safety of Canadian citizens," the brief statement said.

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