Three more Philippines hostages freed

Troops locate a body in Basilan. Ten civilians have been beheaded by suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen recently

By staff and wires

MANILA, Philippines -- Soldiers have rescued three men seized in June by Abu Sayyaf bandits, a military spokesman says.

The three were rescued by marines following separate clashes late Friday, according to Maj. Alberto Gepilano, spokesman for the military on the southern island of Basilan. One soldier was injured.

The Abu Sayyaf, condemned as kidnapping outlaws by the Philippines government, still hold about 18 other hostages, including an American missionary couple.

"This is product of the operations launched by Task Group Lightning yesterday," Gepilano said by telephone from Basilan, about 880 kilometers (550 miles) south of Manila.

The three men were among 15 people seized by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in June from a coconut and coffee plantation in another village in the Lantawan town area where the gang also burned down five houses and a chapel.

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Several days earlier, the Abu Sayyaf seized 11 people from a hospital in nearby Lamitan town, also on Basilan.

The attacks on Lamitan and the plantation followed a raid on May 27 on a beach resort where the guerrillas seized 20 people, including three Americans.

Several of those hostages were freed, reportedly for ransom, while others escaped and at least four were killed.

The group is still holding a missionary couple, Martin and Gracia Burnham, from Wichita, Kansas, but claims to have beheaded the third American, Guillermo Sobero, from Corona, California.

But Sobero's body has not been found.

Some 5,000 troops have been hunting the Abu Sayyaf on Basilan since shortly after the attack on the beach resort on the southwestern island of Palawan.

Last week, the rebels raided the village of Balobo in Lantawan and abducted 33 people to divert the military away from its operation to rescue the other group of hostages.

Soldiers rescued 13 of those seized from Balobo, eight were released and two escaped. The Abu Sayyaf beheaded the other 10.