Posted on 05/17/2002 1:38:14 AM PDT by HAL9000
Military confirming reports Abus set to free ill hostage
THE MILITARY is looking into reports the Abu Sayyaf group will soon release one of its American hostages reportedly ill with malaria and urinary tract infection.
"As of now we haven't received any report . . . but we are looking into that," Southern Command official Col. Fredesvindo Covarrubias said in a television interview. Earlier reports said the Abu bandits would free hostage Gracia Burnham for humanitarian reasons. The Abu Sayyaf holds Gracia, her husband Martin Burnham, and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap hostage for almost a year now.
"We hope all the hostages would be released . . . we hope the Abu Sayyaf would be bothered by their conscience and release them because the victims have been suffering so much," Covarrubias said.
He added pursuit operations are ongoing to hunt down the group believed hiding in the island province of Basilan.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.