Police confirm severed head found in Jolo belongs to Robert Hall

The head of slain Abu Sayyaf hostage Robert Hall has already been turned over to the Canadian Embassy after DNA test confirmed his identity.

Hall's identity was confirmed last Friday, five days after his head, which will be shipped to his family in Canada, was found in front of Jolo Cathedral in Sulu province on June 13.

Hall, along with two other foreign tourists and a Filipina, was kidnapped from a high-end resort on Samal Island in September 2015 and was later brought to Sulu. His fellow hostage, John Ridsdel, also a Canadian, was beheaded in April.

Both Hall and Ridsdel were beheaded after their families failed to pay the P300-million ransom being demanded by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.

Hall's body, however, was still missing as of Tuesday.

According to Chief. Supt. Manuel Aranas, they were able to easily confirm Hall's identity because unlike Ridsdel, Hall's head was still fresh when found.

Hall's identity was confirmed by the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory by comparing its DNA samples with data from the Canadian government. The crime lab used new DNA testing equipment and techniques to speed up the process.

"It was generated by the National Forensic Laboratory services from Ottawa, Canada [and] it was given to us by the Canadian Embassy. And having obtained the DNA profile from the specimen that we took from the head, the DNA experts compared this and they have a match," Aranas said.

Hall's body would be brought to the PNP Crime Lab for identification once found, Aranas said.

"Naghihintay pa rin po kami at ganun din gagawin namin para ma-identify 'yung body, to compare with the DNA profile submitted to us," Aranas said.

The Canadian Embassy has yet to reply to GMA News Online's queries regarding the status of Hall's remains. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News