Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau already spoke out against the killing while at a federal cabinet retreat in Alberta. “I am outraged by the news that a Canadian citizen, John Ridsdel … has been killed at the hands of his captors.”
“This was an act of cold-blooded murder, and responsibility rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage.”
Family of John Ridsdel say they are devastated by his death at the hands of kidnappers in the Philippines. They say his life was “cut tragically short by this senseless act of violence despite us doing everything within our power to bring him home.”
The 68-year-old John Ridsdel was described as semi-retired and was the former chief operating officer of mining company TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of Canada’s TVI Pacific, where he was a consultant, a company officer said.
Ridsdel was one of four hostages, including fellow Canadian Robert Hall, held by the Abu Sayyaf militants since last September.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the beheading of John Ridsdel in the Philippines an act of cold-blooded murder.
