Philippine Military Recovers 2 Farmers Kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 19, 2002

Philippine Military Recovers 2 Farmers Kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf

The Philippine government troops Tuesday morning recovered two farmers kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf bandits last Sunday in the southern island of Basilan.

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The Philippine government troops Tuesday morning recovered two farmers kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf bandits last Sunday in the southern island of Basilan.

The two victims, Latip Kasim and his brother, Danny, were recovered by government troops after being abandoned by the bandits upon sensing the approaching soldiers, the Philippine NewsAgency reported.

The Kasim brothers were harvesting copra in a remote area in the island province's capital, Isabela City, when they were seizedby Abu Sayyaf gunmen. The Abu Sayyaf suspected the Kasim brothers as military informers.

A relative of the victims said the Abu Sayyaf demanded 50,000 pesos (980 U.S. dollars) ransom for the release of the two.

Intensified military operations have degraded the capability ofthe dreaded kidnap group that their number had whittled down from about 1,000 to less than 100 at present, according to Armed ForcesSouthern Command chief Roy A. Cimatu.

The military had seized more than 400 weapons from the Abu Sayyaf.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding three captives, American missionary Martin and Gracia Burnham, and Filipino nurse, Deborah Yap, in the jungles of Basilan.

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