Three Philippine hostages freed

Troops still have to rescue more than two dozen Abu Sayyaf hostages

By CNN's Rufi Vigilar

MANILA, Philippines -- Three kidnap victims, including a Muslim preacher reportedly beheaded by his captors, have been freed in the southern Philippines.

While the fate of three Amercian hostages is still unknown as the drama enters its third week, the preacher and the youngest and eldest hostages were freed on Saturday by military troops, according to an official who requested anonymity.

Military troops were pressing an offensive on the Abu Sayyaf captors when Muslim preacher Ustadz Muhaymin Sahi Latip, 50-year-old Francis Ganzon, and 12-year-old Kimberly Jao were "rescued," the official said.

However, a source at Southern Command headquarters said that two of the hostages appeared newly bathed, triggering speculation that negotiations for their release took place and that ransoms were paid.

VIDEO As Arroyo calls the Abu Sayyaf 'people without souls,' there are reports of more fighting. CNN's John Raedler is in Manila (June 13) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) The wife of the man the Abu Sayyaf claim to have killed talks about her ordeal (June 12) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   IN-DEPTH Abu Sayyaf: Militants in the Philippines   ?  Background   ?  Interview script   ?  Incident map   ?  Message board    COUNTRY PROFILE At a glance: Philippines Provided by CountryWatch.com    CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

The hostages were flown out of southern Basilan province where the Abu Sayyaf maintains its jungle hide-outs.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to meet the hostages at the Villamor Air Base near the capital Manila later Saturday, the official said.

He added that the freed hostages would "immediately undergo a debriefing."

"I'm happy I'll be seeing my family again," said Francis Ganzon who is in his fifties.

"It was a near-death experience. Nightmarish. This has to end," he added.

American hostages sighted

The Abu Sayyaf are still holding captive three Americans and about two dozen Filipinos since taking them hostage in a crisis that began on May 27.

Ganzon said he had seen two of the American hostages, Kansas missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, three days earlier but not since then because the captives had been split up.

The whereabouts of 40-year-old Guillermo Sobero of California, whom the kidnappers earlier claimed to have beheaded, are still unknown.

The three Americans were among the original 20 hostages seized in a dawn raid on a luxury resort in the western Philippine province of Palawan.

The Abu Sayyaf then captured more hostages on their way to their stronghold in Basilan.

They took more hostages into the jungles upon breaking through a military cordon around a provincial hospital where they had sought temporary refuge.

Two Filipino hostages have been killed, one of them beheaded. Nine managed to escape during the hospital siege, including Ganzon's wife and Jao's mother.

President Arroyo has said the government is ready for "a long and bloody war" against the Abu Sayyaf which has managed to evade military troops despite efforts by past presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada.

A lack of military resources, the geography of Basilan and its surrounding islands, and the tacit assistance given by provincial residents has hampered pursuit.

Last year, the Abu Sayyaf abducted more than 40 Western and Asian hostages, including journalists reporting on the crisis, over a four-month period.

All have been released save one Filipino hostage whose whereabouts remain unknown.

The military has confirmed that millions of dollars in ransom were paid and have been used by the Abu Sayyaf to buy firearms and to recruit new members.

The Abu Sayyaf is fighting for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines but has been dismissed by the government as a mere bandit group.