Philippine leader orders extremists crushed after beheading

MANILA, Philippines – Abu Sayyaf extremists have beheaded a kidnapped Filipino villager after a ransom deadline lapsed in their first such brutal act under President Rodrigo Duterte, who pressed an order for troops to crush the militants.

Regional military spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan says the militants killed Patrick James Aldovar on Wednesday near southern Sulu province's Indanan town then later abandoned his head in a neighborhood.

Tan said Thursday that Aldovar, who was seized by the militants July 16 in Sulu's main Jolo town, was decapitated after his family failed to pay ransom.

After learning about the beheading, Duterte ordered his troops: "Drug dealers, destroy them. Abu Sayyaf, destroy them. Period."

The Abu Sayyaf has been blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the Philippines for deadly bombings, kidnappings and beheadings.