Former Calgarian John Ridsdel beheaded by captors in Philippines, officials confirm

calgaryherald.com ^ | 04/25/2016 | AP

[BenLurkin]

Abu Sayyaf had vowed to behead one of the four, abducted last fall from a marina at an island resort in the south of the country, if their ransom demand was not met by a Monday deadline.

“We have received information that a headless body was found at 8:30 p.m. of a Caucasian man in Jolo City, Jolo Island,” Dick Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, said in an interview....

“A motorcycle driver threw a plastic bag in the road in front of where there were five children playing at 7:30 p.m.. But there was a brown-out (power failure). When the lights went back on it was seen that there was blood on the plastic bag and police were called.”

The Philippine military also confirmed to Reuters that a severed head had been found.

...

After armed gunmen seized the four hostages last fall on Samal Island, near the southern city of Davao, Philippine authorities believe they were transferred about 700 kilometres by sea to Abu Sayyaf’s stronghold on Basilan Island, also in the south of the country.

Abu Sayyaf — the group’s name is Arabic for Bearer of the Sword — is considered a terrorist organization by Canada, the U.S. and many other countries.

For years aligned with al-Qaida, the group — itself a collection of different factions — has more recently been kidnapping people for ransom in the name of the Islamic State.... Abu Sayyaf’s most deadly attack was the 2004 bombing of a Philippine ferry, which killed 116 people. While it has long carried out low-intensity attacks against Philippine security forces, the group is also known for drug-running and other criminal activities.

[Jack Black]

They are having a Presidential election next month. Highest vote getter wins, even if not 50%. Could prove interesting.

This fellow is quite amusing. His nick-name is "the Punisher". From Wikipedia:

Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte[2] (born March 28, 1945), nicknamed Digong, is a Filipino lawyer and politician of Visayan descent. Duterte is among the longest-serving mayors in the Philippines and has been mayor of Davao City, a highly urbanized city on Mindanao island, for 7 terms, totalling more than 22 years. He has also served as vice-mayor and congressman in the city. Known for his zero-tolerance policies against criminals, he earned the nickname "The Punisher".[3][4][5]

Essentially he created death squads to go after drug gangs. It has been effective, crime is way down.

[Jack Hammer]

Cowards.

[b4me]

Amen. God be with his family and loved ones.