Philippines Confirms Canadian Hostage Beheaded by Militant Group Abu Sayyaf

Jun 14, 2016 06:28 AM EDT

Security Under Scrutiny In Southern Philippines Amid Terror Attacks

(Photo : Jes Aznar/Getty Images) Moro Islamic Liberation Front armed forces takes a position on the lookout for Bangsamoro Freedom FIghters in Midsayap, North Cotabato on April 19, 2016 in Maguindanao Province, Philippines. For more than forty years, the southern region of Mindanao in the Philippines has been a battleground for numerous Islamic secessionist armies and terror groups. One of the most radical of Islamic separatist group in Southern Philippines, Abu Sayyaf, beheaded a Canadian man on 25 April 2016 after they took him hostage along with three others in September 2015. Widespread injustice and oppression to Muslim communities and their land continues to cause vulnerability in the region to extremist ideas such as ISIS. Despite ongoing peace talks between rebel groups and the Philippine government, militants such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front continues to push for an autonomous Islamic region in restive Southern Philippines.

The Philippines military has confirmed on Tuesday that the Canadian hostage of the militant group Abu Sayyaf has been beheaded after a deadline to pay ransom was not given by the deadline last Monday.

The Philippine Army's Western Mindanao Command said that police officials recovered the head of Canadian Robert Hall near a church in Jolo. It was the same town where the head of the other Canadian hostage, identified as John Rinsdel, was found. Rinsdel was killed by Abu Sayyaf last April after the ransom deadline for him expired.

Like Us on Facebook

The Philippine Army's Western Mindanao Command released a statement saying, "The discovery confirms the brutal beheading by the evil criminal [Abu Sayyaf group] of a kidnap victim. We extend our sincerest condolences and commiserate with the family and relatives of the slain kidnap victim."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also released a statement before the confirmation was given. He said that Canada holds the terrorist group fully responsible for the "coldblooded and senseless murder." Trudeau added in his statement that the Canadian government is committed to pursue those responsible for the deaths of Hall and Risdel even if it takes a long time to bring them to justice.

Trudeau noted that they did not pay the ransom being asked by the terrorist group as it will only endanger the lives of more Canadians.

Hall, Ridsel, a Norwegian man named Kjartan Sekkingstad and Hall's Filipina partner, Marites Flor, were all abducted by Abu Sayyaf last year back in September. They were taken from the resort island of Samal. Both the Philippines and Canada refused to give in to the ransom being demanded by the Abu Sayyaf. The total amount of money being asked by the terrorist group reached $6.4 million for each hostage.

A video was posted on YouTube last month showing Hall, Flor, and Sekkingstad pleading for the Canadian and Philippines officials to negotiate with Abu Sayyaf for their release. Hall said in the video that they are surrounded by hundreds of heavily armed people.

The Abu Sayyaf has been listed by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for kidnappings, beheadings, and bombings. The group started in the early 1990s.

TagsAbu Sayyaf, Terrorist group, Philippines, Canadian hostage, beheaded, Robert Hall, ransom, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau