The Canadian Press
KANANASKIS, Alta.—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday condemned the “cold-blooded murder” of a Canadian beheaded by terrorists in the Philippines after being held hostage for seven months.
Trudeau confirmed the victim was 68-year-old John Ridsdel of Calgary.
Ridsdel was one of four tourists—including fellow Canadian Robert Hall, a Norwegian man, and a Filipino woman—who were kidnapped last Sept. 21 by Abu Sayyaf militants from a marina on southern Samal Island.
The militants had threatened to kill one of the three male hostages if a large ransom was not paid by 3 p.m. yesterday (local time).
Philippine police said a plastic bag containing Ridsdel’s decapitated head was dumped in a street last night by two men on a motorcycle in Jolo, a town in Sulu province.
Trudeau said he was “outraged” by the news.
“Canada condemns without reservation the brutality of the hostage-takers and this unnecessary death,” Trudeau said at a hastily-assembled appearance before the media in the midst of a cabinet retreat.
“This was an act of cold-blooded murder and responsibility rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage.”
Trudeau said the Canadian government is committed to working with the Philippine government and international partners to “pursue those responsible for this heinous act and bring them to justice.”
On behalf of all Canadians, he also expressed his “deepest condolences” to Ridsdel’s family and friends.
“They have endured a terrible ordeal and this is a devastating moment for all of them,” he noted.
Saying that the safety of Canadian citizens is the first priority of the government, Trudeau said the government won’t comment or release any information that might “compromise ongoing efforts or endanger the safety of the remaining hostages.”
He did not answer any questions, including whether the government had paid a ransom for Ridsdel or Hall.
However, an official said it is long-standing government policy to not pay ransom demands.
Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose called news of Ridsdel’s execution “shocking and saddening.”
“Incidents like this should remind all of us that the threat of terrorism remains very real,” she said in a statement.
“We must stand with our allies in solidarity against terrorism, which remains the greatest challenge that the world faces today.”
NDP leader Tom Mulcair called on the Trudeau government to do everything possible to rescue the other hostages and declared that “we stand united in condemning this outrageous and despicable act.”
“Tragic events like this must not lessen our diplomatic resolve to work towards peace across the world,” Mulcair added in a statement.
The hostages were believed to have been taken to Jolo Island in Sulu, where the militants are thought to be holding a number of captives.
“This is such a barbaric act by these people and one would be tempted to think that they should also meet the same fate,” the Associated Press reported Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin as saying by telephone.
Philippine forces were moving to rescue the abductees, the military said.
“Maximum efforts are being exerted . . . to effect the rescue,” the military and police said in a joint statement.
The militants reportedly demanded 300 million pesos ($6.5 million U.S.) for each of the foreigners.
