Presidential bets denounce beheading of Canadian hostage in Sulu

All five presidential candidates on Tuesday denounced the killing of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel by the Abu Sayyaf Group, seven months after he and three others were kidnapped by the terrorist group in Davao del Norte province.

Presidential candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago, in a statement, warned that the Philippines was “reneging on its obligations under the Rome Statute by failing to bring to justice the Abu Sayyaf Group for war crimes.”

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court lists penalties for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, among others.  

Santiago was elected judge of the International Criminal Court but later had to decline the post for health reasons. She is recovering from Stage 4 cancer.

Santiago said the Philippines, being a state party to the Rome Statute, affirmed that “the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole must not go unpunished and that their effective prosecution must be ensured.”

“This reprehensible act is considered a ‘war crime’ under international criminal law, and we are obliged to exert the full force of the law to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the senator said.

Santiago said some of the war crimes committed by the Abu Sayyaf include murder, mutilation, torture, degradation, and hostage-taking. She said the Philippine government’s failure to punish the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups contributes to the culture of impunity.

“By allowing these terrorist acts to go unpunished, we embolden unlawful elements to commit more of these crimes,” she said.

Beheading of Ridsdel

Two men on motorbike dropped Ridsdel's head in a plastic bag near the Jolo city hall in Sulu on Monday. hours after the April 25 deadline set by the Abu Sayyaf.

The Abu Sayyaf had demanded P300 million each (around US$6.5 million) for Ridsdel, another Canadian kidnap victim, Robert Hall, and a Norwegian victim, Kjartan Sekkingstad, the manager of the Ocean View Samal Resort in Samal Island, Davao del Norte province where they were abducted in September 21 last year.

Hall's reported partner, Marites Flor, was abducted along with them. The amount demanded by the Abu Sayyaf is down from the P1 billion the group earlier asked for each hostage.

The group officially listed as a terrorist group by the Philippines and the United States had threatened to behead the hostages if their demand was not met by April 25.

Condemnation, condolences

Meanwhile, the statements of condemnation of the crime against Ridsdel and expressions of condolences to his family were expressed by the four other presidential candidates: Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“It is truly unfortunate that the kidnappers have taken the life of the Canadian for failing to heed their demand of a large ransom. We join the Canadian government in condemning this heinous act and call for swift justice,” the camp of Duterte said.

In a statement, the camp said, “Mayor Duterte has on his own tried to help in the recovery of Ridsdel and the others taken forcibly at the Island Graden City of Samal, Davao del Norte across Davao City last September 2015.”

“These inhuman acts are despicable and bring shame to our nation,” said the camp of Duterte, the leading presidential candidate based on recent surveys of Pulse Asia and SWS.

He has repeatedly said that he will wipe out crime and corruption in the country within six months if elected.

Binay said the Abu Sayyaf members are not bandits and not rebels and "should be dealt with immediately and decisively."

"I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the beheading of John Ridsdel by the Abu Sayyaf Group," Binay said in a press statement.

"This barbaric incident should also remind us that as we take decisive action against criminal and bandit groups, we should address the lingering problem of poverty, which has nurtured unrest, disunity and criminality, especially in Mindanao," he added.

Poe, for her part, urged the government to run after the Abu Sayyaf militants and ensure they are made accountable under the law.

"Siguraduhin natin na habulin natin sila at mapanagot sila sapagkat hindi dapat mangamba ang mga pumupunta dito, lalung lalo na ang ating sariling kababayan," she said at the sidelines of her visit to Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

The senator said the government should welcome any help that could come from its foreign allies in its quest to defeat terrorist groups.

"Kung ano ang maitutulong ng ating mga allies, lalung lalo na sa intelligence gathering--kung nasaan sila (terorista)-- dapat ay tanggapin natin kasi wag tayong magmamalaki kung kailangan natin ng tulong ng iba at yung tulong nila ay para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga kababayan," she said.

Roxas, in a statement, said, “I am outraged by the horrific murder of John Ridsdel at the hands of the terrorist Abu Sayaff. The full force of the state must be applied to apprehend and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Roxas said the killing of Ridsdel should push the government to “triple our efforts” in rescuing the other hostages.

"Terrorism is bullying in its most heinous and brutal form. It preys on the weak and defenseless. Where is the courage in hurting let alone beheading a defenseless person?” Roxas said. — Amita Legaspi, Xianne Arcangel, Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez, Trisha Macas, Elizabeth Marcelo/VVP, GMA News