A second Canadian, Robert Hall, who was being held hostage by the militant group Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines has been killed, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“It is with deep sadness that I have reason to believe that a Canadian citizen, Robert Hall, held hostage in the Philippines since September 21, 2015, has been killed by his captors,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.
“While Canadian officials are working closely with authorities in the Philippines to formally confirm Mr. Hall’s death, we have compelling reason to believe that reports to this effect are, unfortunately, true.”
READ MORE: Canadian Robert Hall executed by Abu Sayyaf after ransom deadline expires
The Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf had set a 3 p.m. ransom deadline for June 13 for the three remaining hostages, including Hall. He was kidnapped in the Philippines last September along with Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, a Filipino woman Maritess Flor, and fellow Canadian John Ridsdel, 68, who was executed by Abu Sayyaf in April.
Abu Sayyaf had demanded 300 million pesos ($8.1 million) for each of the foreigners.
Robert Hall, 50, was born in Calgary but lived in several parts of Western Canada doing a series of jobs that included selling insurance, welding and acting, according to the Globe and Mail. He sold most of his possessions to buy a sailboat, which he sailed from British Columbia to the Philippines, prior to being kidnapped last September.
“He’s an adventurer,” his stepmother Catherine Dafoe Hall told the Globe. “He’s just always looking for the next thing.”
Edmonton radio station 630 CHED confirmed Hall was retired and living in Spruce Grove when he left on his sailing trip to the Philippines. Spruce Grove is located about 11 kilometres west of Edmonton.
According to multiple media reports, Hall had intended to sail to Thailand and had started dating Maritess Flor shortly before they were abducted.
Hall last appeared in a video released in May by Abu Sayyaf where he called on the Filipino and Canadian government to help save him and the other hostages. In April, the militants released a video showing Ridsdel being beheaded.
The condition of the other hostages in not known.
WATCH: Philippines to hunt down terrorists who beheaded John Ridsdel
“I appeal to my family, the Philippine government, and the Canadian government,” Hall said in the video.
“My specific appeal is to the Canadian government who I know has the capacity to get us out of here. I wonder what they are waiting for.”
During a G7 summit last month, Trudeau urged his fellow leaders not to pay ransom for hostages. He said the Canadian flag should not be “a target when worn on a backpack around the world.”
WATCH: Prime Minister Trudeau says paying ransom ‘would put a target on every Canadian’
READ MORE: Abu Sayyaf demand Canadian government pay ransom for hostage Robert Hall in new video
On Monday, the Canadian prime minister offered his condolences to the family and friends of Hall while condemning the “cold-blooded and senseless murder.”
“With the tragic loss of two Canadians, I want to reiterate that terrorist hostage-takings only fuel more violence and instability. Canada will not give into their fear-mongering tactics and despicable attitude toward the suffering of others,” Trudeau said.
“This is precisely why the government of Canada will not and cannot pay ransoms for hostages to terrorists groups.”
Abu Sayyaf is known as a violent militant group in the southwestern Philippines, with links to the Islamic State. It has been blamed for several bloody terrorist attacks in the country and kidnapping of foreigners.
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