The Philippines has confirmed Canadian hostage Robert Hall was killed by Islamist militants.

“We strongly condemn the brutal and senseless murder of Mr Robert Hall, a Canadian national, after being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu for the past nine months,” said Benigno Aquino, the Philippines president.



Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, earlier said he had “every reason to believe” that Robert Hall had been killed. Hall was taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group along with three other people at a resort on Samal island in September 2015.



“It is with deep sadness and anger that I can report we 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,” said Trudeau, adding he had spoken with Aquino.



“Canada holds the terrorist group who took Mr Hall hostage fully responsible for this cold-blooded and senseless murder.”

Known for kidnappings, beheadings and extortion, Abu Sayyaf had demanded a payment of C$16.6m for the release of Hall as well as Filipina Maritess Flor and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, who is also a permanent resident of Canada.

Reports of Hall’s death began to emerge minutes after the ransom deadline passed.



In April Abu Sayyaf beheaded Canadian John Ridsdel, a former mining executive, after a demand for C$6.3m in ransom was ignored.



At the time Trudeau condemned Ridsdel’s killing and stated firmly that Canada would not pay ransoms to terrorists, whether directly or indirectly. Ransom payments, he argued, funded terrorism and criminal activity, while also setting a dangerous precedent.

Shortly after Ridsdel was killed a video circulated by the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi websites, showed Hall, Flor and Sekkingstad – who were abducted with Ridsdel from a yacht marina – pleading for help from the Canadian and Philippines governments.

On Monday Trudeau reiterated his strong stance against ransom payments. “Canada cannot and will not pay ransoms to terrorists,” he said. “We will not turn the Maple Leaf, worn with pride by over three million Canadians abroad, into targets.”

Local officials in the Philippines told Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail that the Hall family had attempted to negotiate with Abu Sayyaf, offering to pay C$1.4m for his release. The offer was rejected by the militants.

Trudeau expressed condolences to the friends and family of Hall, who was from Calgary. “This is a grievous loss for them and their country mourns with them,” he said. His government would continue working with authorities in the Philippines to pursue those responsible and bring them to justice, he said.

The condition of the two other hostages remained unknown.

Several other foreigners from countries including the Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia are also being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf, an extremist group that emerged from the decades-long Muslim separatist rebellion in the southern Philippines.