THE Philippine military has come under increased pressure to rescue more than 20 foreign hostages, after their Muslim extremist captors beheaded a Canadian man.
The military, however, faces a dilemma on how to go about that, and also ensure the safety of the
remaining captives.
The Abu Sayyaf extremists beheaded John Ridsdel on Monday, sparking condemnations and prompting a pledge by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help pursue the extremists behind the “heinous act.”
Philippine security officials said on Tuesday “there will be no letup” in the effort to combat the militants and find the hostages, even though so far they have had little success in freeing them. Ridsdel was kidnapped with a fellow Canadian, a Norwegian and a Filipino woman last year, adding to the Abu Sayyaf’s trove of hostages.
Trudeau said his government will work with Philippine authorities and international partners in pursuing those responsible for the heinous act.
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 3 p.m. on Monday (0800 GMT).
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 P300 million ($6.5 million) for each of the foreigners, a reduction from their earlier demands.
The hostages were believed to have been taken to Jolo Island in Sulu, a jungled province where the militants are thought to be holding a number of captives, including 14 Indonesian and four Malaysian crewmen, who were abducted at gunpoint from three tugboats starting last month..