Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has ruled out paying ransom to terrorists in the wake of the beheading of a Canadian hostage by Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf.
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The deceased, John Ridsdel, was captured by Islamist militants in September 2015 during a visit to a Philippine island.
His head was recovered the same day he was executed and handed over to his kin who flew to Zamboanga City from Canada.
In the most recent video, Ridsdel, a retiree aged in his late 60s, said he would be killed on April 25 if a ransom of 300 million pesos was not paid.
With its stronghold in southern Philippines, the Abu Sayyaf group has kidnapped foreigners, even locals for ransom both in Philippines and Malaysia.
On Wednesday, army spokesman Major Filemon Tan said a headless body was found in a dried creek, near the jungles where Ridsdel was believed to have been beheaded by militants belonging to the Abu Sayyaf group.
President Benigno Aquino III earlier ordered the police and military to exert all effort to rescue the victims following the deadline of the Abu Sayyaf.
Although the Abu Sayyaf’s leaders have pledged allegiance to Isis, analysts say they are mainly focused on their lucrative kidnappings-for-ransom rather than setting up an Islamic caliphate. Two men on a motorcycle had tossed a plastic bag containing Ridsdel’s severed head on a street in Jolo, Sulu Monday night.
In videos posted online, Ridsdel and fellow Canadian Robert Hall, Filipino Marites Flor and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad were shown in a sitting position with no shirts while fighters stood behind them and one of them held a long knife to Ridsdel’s neck.
Aquino, whose six-year term ends in June, says he sent a letter expressing condolences to Ridsdel’s family, describing his death as appalling.
Canada and the United Kingdom will press other nations over making ransom payments, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau says, after the killing of a Canadian hostage.
Some of Canada’s allies, notably France and Italy, have been willing to pay ransom for release of their citizens.
“Casualties are to be expected”, he said, but he added that troops were adequately trained and well-armed.
But more importantly, he said it would encourage terrorists to kidnap more Canadians. “It is a problem because of the sizable force surrounding Sahiron and the captives, but it is also an opportunity because smashing these forces is within our grasp”, Mr. Aquino said. “First of all, obviously this is a significant source of funds for terrorist organizations that then allows them to continue to perpetuate deadly acts of violence against innocents around the world”.
‘Threats against my own life have been investigated, ‘ he said, without elaborating.
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It has been weakened by more than a decade of government offensives, but has endured largely as a result of large ransom and extortion earnings.
