Islamist militants behead second Canadian hostage in the Philippines
The Philippine government confirmed that Canadian Robert Hall was beheaded by the militant group Abu Sayyaf after the deadline for the payment of ransom had passed on the afternoon of Monday, June 13.
Local residents found a person's head wrapped in a plastic bag in front of a cathedral in Jolo, an island town in southern Philippines, at around 8:45 p.m. Monday. The following day, the Philippine military confirmed the victim's identity as Hall, according to local news platform GMA.
"We strongly condemn the brutal and senseless murder of Mr. Robert Hall, a Canadian national, after being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu for the past nine months," presidential spokesman Sonny Coloma said in a statement. "We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to his bereaved family."
Hall was taken captive by the Abu Sayyaf on Sept. 21, 2015, together with his Filipina partner Marites Flor, fellow Canadian John Ridsdel and Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad, while they were in a resort on Samal Island near southern Mindanao. The militant group asked for a ransom of P300 million, or around $6.6 million, for each of them.
Hall's execution came after the beheading of John Ridsdel, who had been executed on April 25 hours after the deadline for his ransom payment had lapsed. Flor and Sekkingstad are believed to be alive.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada holds the Abu Sayyaf responsible for the "needless" and "cold-blooded and senseless death" of Hall.
"On behalf of the government of Canada and all Canadians, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Hall," Trudeau said, as reported by CNN. "They have suffered a terrible loss, and this is a devastating moment for them."
The Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf, which is linked with the Al-Qaeda, is believed to have no connection with ISIS, although some of its leaders had pledged allegiance to ISIS two years ago.
SITE Intelligence Group, a nongovernment counterterrorism organization, posted a video of Hall's beheading on its website. The video, released by the Abu Sayyaf, showed Hall and Sekkingstad in orange shirts — something that appears to be strikingly similar to ISIS victims wearing orange jumpsuits — and pleading with the yet to be inaugurated president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, CNN reports.
Trudeau emphasized that the Canadian government does not give in to terrorists' demands because it would "endanger the lives of more Canadians," The New York Times reported.
