Robert Hall, left, and John Ridsdel are seen in this still image taken from an undated militant video. Canadians Hall and Ridsdel, a Norwegian man and a Filipina woman were taken hostage by gunmen from the Holiday Ocean View Samal Resort on Samal Island in the Philippines in September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO via Youtube

Robert Hall, left, and John Ridsdel are seen in this still image taken from an undated militant video. Canadians Hall and Ridsdel, a Norwegian man and a Filipina woman were taken hostage by gunmen from the Holiday Ocean View Samal Resort on Samal Island in the Philippines in September.
Photo Credit: PC / THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO via Youtube

Trudeau condemns ‘cold-blooded’ murder of second Canadian hostage

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed on Monday to hunt down the terrorists responsible for the killing of Robert Hall, the second Canadian hostage executed by a militant Islamist group in the Philippines after Ottawa refused to pay any ransom.

Hall, 50, was killed Monday after the deadline for ransom payment passed, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, citing a spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group that fights Philippine authorities.

A severed head was found on the southern island of Jolo on Monday night, more than five hours after the Abu Sayyaf claimed it beheaded Hall, the newspaper reported, citing local police chief Superintendent Junpikar Sittin.

In a statement issued following Hall’s execution, Trudeau said Canadian authorities “are more committed than ever to working with the Government of the Philippines and international partners to pursue those responsible for these heinous acts and bring them to justice, however long it takes.”

Plea for help

Hall, a former resident of Calgary, had been held by the Abu Sayyaf jihadist group since Sept. 21, 2015, along with former mining executive and fellow Canadian John Ridsdel, who was killed by the group on April 25. Ridsdel and Hall were abducted from a seaside resort along with a Filipino woman and a Norwegian man.

In early May, Abu Sayyaf released a new video apparently showing Hall pleading with Ottawa to “meet the demand” of his captors.

The two-minute video showed three hostages – Hall, Filipino Marites Flor and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad – each being forced to addresses the camera.

“To the Canadian government, I’m told to tell you to meet the demand,” says Hall, according to the transcript of the video obtained by the newspaper. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but you’re not doing anything for us. John has been sacrificed, his family has been decimated, and I’m not sure why or what you’re waiting for.”

No ransom policy
 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes a statement regarding Canadian hostage Robert Hall in the Philippines during an availability in the House of Commons foyer on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, June 13, 2016.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes a statement regarding Canadian hostage Robert Hall in the Philippines during an availability in the House of Commons foyer on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, June 13, 2016. © PC/Adrian Wyld

Trudeau defended his government’s policy of not paying ransoms.

“With the tragic loss of two Canadians, I want to reiterate that terrorist hostage-takings only fuel more violence and instability,” Trudeau said in a statement.

“This is precisely why the Government of Canada will not and cannot pay ransoms for hostages to terrorists groups, as doing so would endanger the lives of more Canadians.”

CBC News correspondent Sasa Petricic reported that the Canadian government had sent military advisers to the Philippines to help authorities there find and rescue the hostages.

The condition of the two remaining hostages is not known.

With reports from CBC News

Related stories:

Remaining Canadian hostage pleads with Ottawa

Canadian hostages in Philippines: PM – Canada pays no ransom

PM Trudeau outraged by ‘cold-blooded’ murder of Canadian hostage

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