Philippine police confirm severed head belongs to Canadian Robert Hall

The Philippines National Police have confirmed that a severed head found near a cathedral on the island of Jolo was that of Canadian Robert Hall, 68., who was executed by Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf last week.

Samples taken from the head matched the DNA profile of Hall supplied by a Canadian forensics laboratory, ABS-CBN reported.

Hall was captured by Abu Sayyaf in September 2015 with three others and was killed after a ransom deadline passed.

• CBC IN PHILIPPINES | Cash, not caliphate, drives kidnappers in Philippines
• Family mourns dead hostage, doesn't believe in ransoms

After the beheading, Hall's family said that they supported Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's directive that money should not be paid to hostage takers.

"Our family, even in our darkest hour, agrees wholeheartedly with Canada's policy of not paying ransom," the Hall family said in a statement.

Hall's death came after fellow Canadian John Ridsel was also executed by Abu Sayyaf in April.

• Why refusing to pay ransoms may not protect Canadians
• A hostage's death tests a new Canadian government