MANILA, Philippines--Police on Monday formed a special task force that will look into and arrest suspects behind the abduction and beheading a school principal in Jolo, Sulu.

Task Force Canizares was immediately organized to probe the beheading of Gabriel Canizares, whose severed head was found inside a bag at the Abubakar gas station in Jolo at 5:30 a.m., said Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, police spokesman.

The task force will be headed by Superintendent Christopher Panapan of the Sulu provincial police office.

Authorities in Sulu said that the beheading of Canizares was believed to be a retaliation of the suspects for the arrest of Adan Asnawi during the weekend. Asnawi was allegedly a sub-commander of the Abu Sayyaf group and was wanted for the beheading of Marine soldiers in Basilan in 2007.

Asnawi was arrested by police operatives at the Zamboanga Airport on Saturday while about to board a commercial flight to Manila.

Espina said Canizares’ severed head was positively identified by his wife, Anabelle, after the head was brought to their residence in Barangay San Raymundo.

Canizares was abducted by armed men, believed to members of the Abu Sayyaf, last October 19 in Tanum, Kilometer 6, Patikul town.