Headless remains found in Sulu; cops verifying identity

This image grabbed from an undated militant video shows Canadians John Ridsdel (right) and Robert Hall. (Militant video via AP video)

Zamboanga City — Military authorities here yesterday said a headless cadaver had been recovered in Sulu.

Maj. Felimon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, did not give specifics as to where and when the headless body had been found but he said it belonged to a man.

“Troops are still verifying if the body was that of John Ridsdel. Will update as data become available,” he said in a text message.

Ridsdel, a Canadian national and a former mining executive, was beheaded by the bandit group after his family failed to raise the P300-million ransom they wanted for his freedom. His severed head was found in Jolo town.

The beheaded victim was among four hostages taken by the Abu Sayyaf from the Holiday Oceanview Resort and marina on Samao Island, Daval del Norte last September 21.

The other hostages were Canadian Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipino Marites Flor.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the brutal killing of Ridsdel. Trudeau said he spoke with President Benigno Aquino III about possible actions against the kidnappers.

“The discussions I had with President Aquino and are continuing to have with our allies in the Philippines is the need to bring these criminals to justice and to do whatever we can to express that we are very concerned about security of Canadians,” Trudeau said.

The Canadian leader stressed that “we will not pay a ransom.”

Under increased pressure, thousands of troops have been searching for the militants and their remaining 22 foreign captives, including those abducted with Ridsdel. They face a dilemma of how to wage an offensive against about 400 militants in Sulu’s vast jungle without endangering the hostages.