Free Republic

Thursday November 15, 6:54 PM Freed hostage returns a convert, Muslim rebels murdered US boyfriend ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Nov 15 (AFP) - A shell-shocked Filipina hostage was freed from nearly six months captivity Thursday, having been forced to convert to the religion of her Muslim Abu Sayyaf kidnappers who murdered her American boyfriend. Maria Fe Rosadeno looked emaciated and forlorn as she and another freed captive faced the press at a military camp in this southern city. The 21-year-old's face was covered with rashes and her hair concealed under a traditional Muslim veil. She was vacationing with her Californian boyfriend Guillermo ...

U.S. WELCOMES CONVICTION OF 17 ABU SAYYAF BANDITS MANILA, August 18 , 2004 (STAR) By Marvin Sy - The United States has welcomed the conviction of 17 Abu Sayyaf bandits who kidnapped three Americans and 17 Filipino tourists from a resort off Palawan three years ago. All 17 were sentenced to death on Aug. 13 for kidnapping nurses from a church-hospital compound in Lamitan, Basilan in June 2001. Four of them, who remained at large, were sentenced in absentia. In a statement, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said his government has lauded the effort of the Philippines in fighting terrorism...