The Department of National Defense (DND) strongly condemns
the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) for its brutal beheading of Canadian hostage John
Ridsel on Monday.
"We strongly condemn this brutal act by this barbaric
extortionist group," DND spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said.
"This further fuels our resolve for the continuous
operations until all remaining hostages are rescued and they are
neutralized," he added.
On Monday, unconfirmed reports came out claiming that the
ASG has beheaded one of its three foreign captives after governments of the
latter refused to give in to the bandits' ransom demand.
The brigands earlier demanded a PHP1-billion ransom from
each of the three foreign captives and threatening to kill them if the ransom
is not paid.
The ASG earlier set an April 8 deadline for the ransom but
this was moved to April 25, hence the brutal beheading of Ridsel somewhere in
Sulu.
Hostages still held captive by the ASG clutches are Canadian
Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingtad and Filipina Marites Flor, Hall's
girlfriend.
"There will be no let up in the determined efforts of
the joint AFP-PNP task group's intensive military and law enforcement operations
to neutralize these lawless elements and thwart further threats to peace and
security. The full force of the law will be used to bring these criminals to
justice," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen.
Restituto Padilla earlier said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III has earlier directed acting
AFP Chief Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda and Philippine National Police Chief
Director General Ricardo Marquez to conduct appropriate military and law
enforcement operations to rescue the hostages.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=879713
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