Philippine President vows to neutralise Islamist militants who beheaded Canadian hostage
John Ridsdel was executed by Abu Sayyaf militants on Monday
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
The Philippine President has said "casualties are to be expected" as he vowed to devote all his energy to eliminating the Islamic militants who beheaded a Canadian hostage.
John Ridsdel, 68, was executed by Abu Sayyaf militants on Monday. He was captured along with three others in 2015 while on holiday in the Philippines.
His head, placed in a plastic bag, was dumped by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Jolo town in the southern province of Sulu, five hours after the expiry of a ransom deadline set by the militants.
President Benigno Aquino III said in a statement: "So, to the ASG [Abu Sayyaf Group], and whoever may aid or abet them, you have chosen only the language of force, and we will speak to you only in that language.
"Casualties are to be expected. But what has to be of utmost importance is neutralising the criminal activities of the ASG."
Abu Sayyaf, which is linked to Isis, is believed to be holding 22 foreign hostages from six Western and Asian countries hostage.
The Philippine military and police said "there will be no letup" in the effort to combat the group and find the hostages.
Government troops have been ordered to carry out assaults without endangering the remaining hostages.
About 2,000 military personnel, backed by Bell UH-1 "Huey" and MG520 rocket-firing helicopters and artillery, are involved in the manhunt for the militants, who are believed to be massing in Sulu's mountainous Patikul town, military officials said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said his country and Britain will urge other nations not to pay ransoms to free kidnap victims.
Mr Trudeau said if Canada paid ransoms, it would put all of its all of its citizens who traveled or lived abroad at risk.
The Isis-linked Abu Sayyaf has collected tens of millions of dollars in ransoms since it was formed in the 1990s, security experts say.
While the Philippines rarely publicises payments of ransom, it is widely believed no captives are released without them.
Additional reporting by agencies
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments