Body believed to be Abu Sayyaf victim’s handed to Canadian embassy

Philippine National Police Director General Ricardo Marquez talks to the media after reading a joint statement from the military and police on the beheading of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel of Calgary, Alberta by Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf Group in southern Philippines Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Camp Crame (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

MANILA — The body believed to be that of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel who was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf group last Monday, has been turned over to the Canadian embassy.

The Philippine National Police said they airlifted the body to Manila on Thursday, after which an autopsy was conducted on the body.

“We have airlifted the body to Manila.  Our scene of the crime operations conducted an autopsy early this morning at the Heritage Park,” PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez said on Thursday.

The headless body was recovered on Wednesday in Barangay Gata in Talipao, Sulu, two days after the head was abandoned in Jolo.

Ridsdel was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf on Monday afternoon, which was the deadline set for the payment of the P300 million ransom for each of the Samal Island hostages.

In September last year, Ridsdel with his fellow Canadian Robert Hall and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad were snatched from a resort in Samal Island, along with Filipina Maritess Flor.

From the initial P1 billion ransom demand for each of the hostages, the amount was lowered to P300 million with a threat to behead them if the ransom was not paid.

OUTRAGE Canadians John Ridsdel (right) and Robert Hall are shown in this video grab sent earlier by the Abu Sayyaf to media outlets. MILITANT VIDEO VIA AP VIDEO

After Ridsdel was murdered on Monday afternoon, two men on a motorcycle threw his head in front of the Jolo municipal hall.

Marquez defended policemen in Jolo who failed to block and arrest the men who dumped the victim’s head.

The PNP chief said there were only a few policemen in the area through which the men escaped.

He said there was no police checkpoint along the route where the criminals probably escaped.  SFM