JOLO, Sulu – A group of political leaders led by Sulu 2nd District Rep. Munir Arbison condemned the beheading of a public school teacher and the rash of kidnappings and other atrocities in the province.

They also expressed sympathy to the public school teachers in Patikul town who had earlier refused to go to work fearing they would suffer the same fate as their ill-fated colleague.

“I, former Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong, Representative Yusop Jikiri, Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidulla, seven Provincial Board Members and eight municipal mayors, the law-abiding and peace-loving inhabitants of the 2nd legislative district of Sulu, condemn in the strongest terms in kidnapping and beheading of some hostages by terrorist groups,” Arbison said in a statement.

“We join our government and the international community in denouncing the renewed un-Islamic, inhuman and shameful criminal activities of terrorist groups, sparing no one in their kidnapping frenzy and recently victimizing a hapless public school teacher. Worst, they beheaded him after his family failed to pay the ransom demand,” Arbison added.

Kidnapped teacher Gabriel Canizares’ head was recovered outside a gasoline station in Jolo on November 10 while his body was found near the main gate of the 3rd Marine Brigade in Patikul after his family failed to deliver R150,000 in ransom fee.

The Sulu representative noted that kidnapped Jolo businessman Peter Go is still in captivity and the local leadership “has not lifted a finger” to help him citing reports reaching him.

“If true, this looks like the local government is not bent on protecting its own citizen while it went all the way marshalling all resources and personnel at its beck and call during the much publicized kidnapping of three International Red Cross workers to obtain the release of the victims' Arbison asserted.