Canada's
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the decapitated head of a
Caucasian male recovered Monday night in the southern Philippines belong
to one two Canadians taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in
September. Trudeau
identified the victim as John Ridsdel of Calgary, Alberta and said his
government will work with the government of the Philippines and
international partners to pursue those responsible for this 'heinous
act.'
'I'm
outraged by the news that a Canadian citizen, John Ridsdel, held
hostage in the Philippines since September 21, 2015, has been killed at
the hands of his captors,' Trudeau said.
'This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests with the terrorist group who took him hostage.'
Two
men on a motorcycle left Ridsdel's head, placed inside a plastic bag,
along a street in Jolo town in Sulu province and then fled, Jolo police
chief Supt. Junpikar Sitin said.
Abu
Sayyaf militants had threatened to behead one of three men - two
Canadians and a Norwegian - they kidnapped last September from a marina
on southern Samal Island if a large ransom was not paid by 3pm Monday.
Jolo
Mayor Hussin Amin condemned the beheading, blaming Abu Sayyaf
militants, who have been implicated in past kidnappings, beheadings and
bombings.
'This
is such a barbaric act by these people and one would be tempted to
think that they should also meet the same fate,' Amin said by telephone.
Philippine
forces were moving to rescue the abductees, also including a Filipino
woman who was kidnapped with them, as the Abu Sayyaf's deadline for the
ransom payment lapsed, the military said.
The
militants reportedly demanded 300 million pesos (the equivalent of $6.5
million USD) for each of the foreigners, a reduction from their earlier
demands.
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