President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to apply the full force of the law and bring the members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to justice.
The pronouncement of the President came after the beheading of Canadian John Ridsdel on Monday.
“The President has directed the security forces to apply the full force of the law to bring these criminals to justice,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement on Tuesday.
Coloma echoed the promise of the AFP and the PNP, saying that there would be no letup in their operations against the bandit group.
“There will be no letup in the resolute efforts of the joint PNP-AFP task group in pursuing intensive and wide-ranging military and law enforcement operations to neutralize these lawless elements and thwart further threats to peace and security,” he said.
The Palace official said the Aquino government condoles with the Ridsdel family and the Canadian government on the death of the 68-year-old victim.
“We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Canadian government and to the family of Mr. John Ridsdel who died in the hands of the ASG bandits,” he said.
On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that Ridsdel was killed by the terrorists. Ridsdel was one of four tourists kidnapped by the militants from Samal Island in September last year.
The ASG earlier demanded P300 million for each of the victims by April 25, or the hostages would be killed.
Police said two men on a motorcycle left Ridsdel’s head, placed inside a plastic bag, on a street in Jolo, Sulu, before fleeing.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Benigno Aquino III, the PNP and AFP as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs all condemned the beheading of the Canadian national.