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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY April 16 - 30, 2016
HEADLINE
Canada condemns beheading of citizen
in southern Philippines
John Ridsdel, a Canadian
who was among the group
of foreigners taken hostage
by Abu Sayyaf gunmen from
the Holiday Oceanview resort
on Samal Island in southern
Philippines on September 21
last year, is dead.
Ridsdel’s severed head
was found in the town of Jolo
in Sulu province on April 25.
The execution of Ridsdel
was met with widespread
condemnation.
Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau said he is
“outraged”.
“Canada
condemns
without
reservation
the
brutality of the hostagetakers, and this unnecessary
death. This was an act of
cold-blooded murder and
responsibility rests squarely
with the terrorist group who
took him hostage,” Trudeau
said in a statement.
“The Government of
Canada is committed to
working with the Government
of Philippines and international
partners to pursue those
responsible for this heinous
act and bring them to justice,”
he also said.
The Prime Minister added:
“On behalf of the Government
of Canada and all Canadians,
I would like to express my
deepest condolences to
the family and friends of Mr.
Ridsdel. They have endured
a terrible ordeal, and this is a
devastating moment for all of
them. Our thoughts are with
them as they come to terms
with this loss, and I would ask
that the media respect their
privacy at this difficult time.
“The Government of
Canada’s first priority is the
safety and security of its
citizens. The Government of
Canada will not comment or
release any information which
may compromise ongoing
efforts or endanger the safety
of the remaining hostages.”
Witnesses
said
an
unidentified man was seen
leaving behind a black plastic
bag in front of the Jolo
municipal hall during a power
outage.
Residents
discovered
the severed head inside the
bag after electricity returned.
They immediately reported it
to the military, who brought
the remains to the Philippine
Marines’ Camp Teodolfo in
Jolo.
The
Army
received
intelligence that Abu Sayyaf
had carried out an execution
outside Patikul town on Jolo
island.
A video posted on social
media showed the captives,
with machetes held to their
necks, asking their families
and government to pay a
ransom of P300 million
($6.51 million) each or they
would face execution by 3
p.m. on April 25.
The captives were two
Canadian men, a Norwegian
man and a Filipino woman.
The captives are believed
to be held in the jungle on
Jolo island, a stronghold of
the Abu Sayyaf group, which
is known for bombings,
beheadings and kidnappings.
The video was the fourth
such appeal released by the
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