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Philippine Soldiers Rescue 13 Hostages From Rebels
Philippine soldiers rescued 13 hostages early Sunday from a Muslim separatist group that has beheaded 10 other captives in a three-day spree of bloodshed and abduction, officials said.
Army spokesman Maj. Alberto Gepilano said the 13 were among a group of 36 people seized Thursday in a raid by the group Abu Sayyaf on a village on the southern island of Basilan. The Abu Sayyaf is also holding a separate group of 20 hostages, including three Americans, on another part of Basilan, a guerrilla stronghold nearly 600 miles south of the capital, Manila.
Of the group seized Thursday from the southern village of Balobo, 10 were found beheaded, said army spokesman Maj. Alberto Gepilano.
After their rescue, the hostages, exhausted from the long trek through the jungle, were brought to a military camp in Basilan for a tearful reunion with relatives.
Beheading has become a hallmark of the Abu Sayyaf, who claim they are fighting for an independent Muslim state to be carved out of the southern Philippines ¡ª a mostly Muslim region of this predominantly Roman Catholic nation. The Philippine government calls Abu Sayyaf bandits who are out to profit from kidnapping.
At least 16 headless bodies have been discovered near Abu Sayyaf strongholds since early June. Most, or all, of those kidnapped and beheaded were Christian.
It remained unclear Sunday whether any of the original 36 were still being held; at least 34 had been accounted for.
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