Abu Sayyaf Kidnaps 4, Beheads 2 in Southern PhilippinesAbu Sayyaf bandits abducted four Christian farmers Saturday in Basilan province, the southern Philippines, and beheaded two of them while the other two escaped, the Malaya newspaper reported Sunday.The report quoted provincial police chief Bensali Jabarani as saying that the rebels swooped down on a hinterland village and gathering four who were gathering coconuts. The latest incident of beheading followed a confirmation from the United States that remains found last week in Basilan belonged to American hostage Guillermo Sobero who the bandits said was beheaded on June 12 as an Independence Day "gift" to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Except for the newly abducted, the Abu Sayyaf is holding 14 hostages in Basilan including two Americans. Four hostages were recovered by government troops in the past few days while pursuing operation against the bandits were continued. |
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