Kidnappers believed to be members of the militant Abu Sayyaf group beheaded their captive school principal, Philippine military officials said Monday.

Major Ramon David Hontiveros, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said police officials recovered around 5 a.m. Monday the decapitated head of Gabriel Canizares in Jolo, capital of Sulu province, southern Philippines. The severed head was found inside a bag dumped in a gasoline station.

Hontiveros said the blood still appeared fresh prompting police officials to believe that the victim was beheaded by his captors just a few hours before the discovery of the remains. They are now searching for Canizares's body.

Canizares, 36, principal of Kanague Elementary School, was abducted last Oct.18 in the town of Patikul. The victim, along with some teachers, was on board a passenger jeepney.

The kidnappers initially demanded for a 2 million pesos (42,000U.S. dollars) ransom. But Sulu Governor Sakur Tan refused to pay the ransom and urged the kidnappers to release the victims.