JOLO, Sulu - A headless body believed to belong to Canadian John Ridsdel was recovered by villagers in a remote village in Patikul this province, according to police.
Sr. Supt. Wilfredo Cayat, Sulu provincial police director, said the decapitated body was found covered with a sack and leaves by the villagers on Wednesday morning at Sitio Tibangao, Barangay Tugas.
Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), also confirmed the recovery of a headless body.
Both the military and the police are still verifying if the body was Ridsdel's.
“It’s positive. The local residents there found the headless remains and we have sent our police team to recover it for verification of the identity,” Cayat said.
The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) beheaded Ridsdel on Monday and dumped his severed head later in the night in front of the municipal capitol here amid blackout.
The ASG executed Ridsdel due to the failure to pay the P300 million ransom.
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A highly placed security source also revealed that the ASG was also angered by the death of their 13 followers who were killed by military forces during the night offensive mission on the eve of the ultimatum on Monday.
Meanwhile, the military has employed all its assets to crush down the ASG following the order of President Benigno Aquino III to launch an all-out offensive against the militants.
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“All assets are being utilized as ordered by the president for an all-out offensive,” said Tan.
Acting Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda returned here Wednesday along with Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año to ensure the ongoing military offensive operation that is personally overseen by Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz.
Miranda also flew last Monday in Jolo but went back later in the afternoon to Manila.
Deployment of fresh troops has been routinely shifted to ensure continuous pursuit while tubes of the 105mm Howitzer artillery were directed towards the suspected locations of the Abu Sayyaf group.
Air Force MG520 attack helicopters were also on regular reconnaissance backed by the Navy’s AW 159 (Augusta Westland) attack helicopters which are placed on standby.