“Today marks yet another hard day for Canada and for Canadians as we grieve as a nation for the loss of both John Ridsdel, who was killed on April 25, and Robert Hall”.
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Trudeau said Hall’s death and the “appalling” attack on an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, “serve as devastating reminders that the vicious acts of hatred and violence can not be tolerated in any form”.
Canada’s prime minister voiced “deep sadness” on Monday after an armed Islamist group murdered a second Canadian hostage in the Philippines.
In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the government’s policy of not paying ransom for hostages.
He has vowed that Ottawa will work with the Philippine government to bring the killers to justice, “however long it takes”.
“On behalf of all Albertans, I offer heartfelt condolences to Robert Hall’s family and friends in this most tragic end to his long captivity and their heroic efforts to secure his release”.
Hall was kidnapped from an upmarket resort on Samal Island in September 2015 alongside a Filipino woman, a Norwegian man and fellow Canadian, John Ridsdel.
Philippine authorities have arrested a man accused of kidnapping an Italian businessman who was held hostage for six months by Islamic militants, the military said Sunday.
Militants in the southern Philippines on Monday executed a Canadian hostage after ransom was not paid, officials said.
The Abu Sayyaf was demanding P600 million in ransom for the 3 hostages.
According to a report by CBC News, the Philippines-based militant group “had warned it would kill Robert Hall today if it didn’t receive a multimillion-dollar ransom”. “We have been starved, our sleep is deprived and they threaten to beat me”, Hall told the site.
The group apparently made good on their word, as “sources close to the situation.and within Philippine security confirmed Hall’s death early Monday”.
“I do want to make one thing perfectly crystal clear; Canada does not and will not pay ransom to terrorists, directly or indirectly”, said Trudeau.
Dion said the Canadian government did everything in its power to help the hostages, but, citing concern for the safety of two other hostages, he said he could not give any details. “They have suffered a awful loss, and this is a devastating moment for them”.
Hall, Kjartan Sekkingstad, a Norwegian; Marithess “Tess” Flor, a Filipina; and John Ridsdel, also a Canadian were kidnapped from Samal Isand.
Last week, the Abu Sayyaf militants released four Malaysian tugboat crew members abducted in waters off Tawi-Tawi province, the Philippines’ southernmost province, on April 1.
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The group has been blamed for the worst terror attacks in Philippine history. The militants said they were angry the Canadian government had failed to meet their demands for ransom.
