Filipino Jihadists Post Video of Foreign Hostages Pleading for Help
Filipino jihadists have released a video of their foreign hostages pleading for help from both the Canadian and Philippine governments.
On Sept. 21, the jihadist group forcibly took one Norwegian, one Filipino, and two Canadian citizens from a resort on the island of Samal in the Philippines. The assailants, who are believed to be aligned with the Al Qaeda group, have taken the victims to the island of Jolo in the country's southern region, according to Time.
Jolo is a known stronghold of the local terror group Abu Sayyaf, which is notorious for its kidnapping and beheading activities in the region, Reuters reports.
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In the video posted on YouTube and other Islamist websites, the kidnap victims begged the authorities to negotiate for their freedom and halt military operations in the southern region of the Philippines. The four captives are seen sitting on the ground with 11 masked gunmen standing behind them. The machine guns are pointed to the head of the captives who are pleading for help from Canada and the Philippines.
"We beseech the Canadian government to please, please help us, and the Philippine government to help us by stopping all of the military operations that have been going on," Time quotes the statement of the Canadian citizen identified as John Ridsdel.
Another Canadian, Robert Hall, revealed that they are alright but are "in grave danger." At the end of the footage, one of the militants said the four captives will only be released if the government gives in to their demands.
During a press conference in Manila on Wednesday, Philippine army spokesperson Colonel Restituto Padilla said they will not reveal further details on their current operations. However, he said they are prioritizing the safety of the kidnap victims. Jolo military commander General Alan Arrojado also said they will not halt their offensives against the Abu Sayyaf group because they have no proof that the hostages have indeed been taken to that area.
Meanwhile, Canada said via a Foreign Ministry spokesperson that they are "pursuing all appropriate channels" to gain more information regarding the current situation.
