Family Of Murdered Canadian Hostage Agrees Ransoms Should Not Be Paid

Relatives of Robert Hall, the Calgarian executed this week by extremists in The Philippines, say they agree with Canada’s policy not to pay ransom for hostages. They said in a statement, “Our family, even in our darkest hour, agrees wholeheartedly with Canada’s policy of not paying ransom. We stand with the ideals that built this country; strength of character, resilience of spirit, and refusal to succumb to the demands of the wretched.” Hall had been held hostage since last fall. Fellow Canadian, John Ridsdell, was executed by the same group in April.