Chances were high that it was Hall's body, Tan said, citing intelligence reports and help from villagers. Ridsdel had also been beheaded, Sikkengstad remains in Abu Sayyaf custody and Flor has been freed. Villagers led the troops to a hinterland near Kamuntayan village in Sulu province's Talipao town where the militants buried Hall's body after killing him on June 13. The Abu Sayyaf, which has more than 400 armed fighters, is blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist group for bombings, kidnappings for ransom, beheadings and extortion. Philippine troops on Saturday dug up what they believe is the body of Canadian hostage Robert Hall, who was beheaded by Abu Sayyaf extremists more than two weeks ago in the south after a ransom deadline lapsed.

Source: CBC News July 02, 2016 11:08 UTC