Head of ‘Abu Sayyaf captive’ dumped on Sulu street – police

Armed men abducted Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall with Filipino girlfriend Marites Flor (inset photos) and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad on the Island Garden City of Samal, just off Davao City, in September 2015. INSET PHOTOS COURTESY OF AFP EASTERN MINDANAO COMMAND/FACEBOOK

Updated to identify victim as Canadian John Ridsdel

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Abu Sayyaf killed one of its foreign captives in Sulu on Monday, the local police said.

The police gave the confirmation after a severed head, believed to be that of a foreign kidnap victim, was found at the corner of Mayor Salih Yusah and Sari Ahmad Streets in Barangay Walled City, Jolo, Sulu, on Monday night.

Chief Insp Junpikar Sittin, police chief of Jolo, said the head that appeared to belong to a “Caucasian-looking” person, was placed in a plastic bag and was found at 7:35 p.m Monday.

“We need to search for the body,” Sittin said.

Dr. Raden Ikbala, one of the physicians of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the foreigner was beheaded at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday.

“He was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf in Sitio Pegeh Mount Dahu, Barangay Langub in Talipao town. It’s confirmed because the head is in the Jolo police station,” Ikbala told the Inquirer.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the victim was John Ridsdel, one two Canadians taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in September 2015.

Trudeau said Ridsdel was from Calgary, Alberta. He said his government would work with the government of the Philippines and international partners to pursue those responsible for this “heinous act.”

Two men on a motorcycle left Ridsdel’s head before driving away, Jolo police chief Supt. Junpikar Sitin said.

The bandit group earlier demanded P300-million for each of the victims to be paid on April 25 or the victims would be killed.  SFM/ AC

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