The Philippines has confirmed the execution of a second Canadian who had been held hostage by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Islamist militant group.
"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," outgoing Philippines President Benigno Aquino said in a statement.
A Philippines military spokesman said earlier a severed head had been found near a Catholic cathedral on a remote southern island late yesterday.
No identification had been made yet.
Mr Hall was taken captive by the militants with three others from an upscale resort on Samal island, hundreds of miles east of Jolo.
Another Canadian who was held captive, former mining executive John Ridsdel, was executed by the group in April.
A Norwegian man and a Filipina are still being held.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters that "Canada holds the terrorist group who took Mr Hall hostage fully responsible for this cold-blooded and senseless murder".
He said Sunday's attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and the killing of Mr Hall "serve as devastating reminders for all of us, the vicious acts of hatred and violence cannot be tolerated in any form".
Abu Sayyaf, based in the south of the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines, is known for kidnapping, beheadings and extortion.
In Manila, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's national security adviser said Mr Duterte's new government, which takes charge on 30 June, would "take a stronger action against lawlessness in the south".
Abu Sayyaf had initially demanded one billion pesos ($21.7 million) each for the detainees, but it lowered the ransom to 300 million pesos each early this year.
Preliminary intelligence reports in the Philippines indicated Mr Hall had been beheaded ten minutes after a 3pm deadline lapsed in the mountains outside Jolo's Patikul town.
Philippine media had already quoted a spokesman for Abu Sayyaf confirming the execution.
