Seven Abu Sayyaf hostages freed

Philippine troops have stepped up search-and-rescue offensives in the Abu Sayyaf strongholds of Basilan and Sulu

By Rufi Vigilar

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- Seven hostages held captive for months by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in the southern Philippines have been released, according to the Philippine military.

Sources said the Filipino hostages were abandoned along a highway in Basilan -- an Abu Sayyaf stronghold some 900 km (560 miles) south of Manila.

American Christian missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham are still among three remaining Abu Sayyaf captives.

One of those released said the Burnham couple are still alive, but added they are "not just skinny, but bony," Armed Forces Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu said.

Two of those released were in the first batch of hostages seized by the Abu Sayyaf in late May at a beach resort in western Palawan province. They were identified as Angie Montealegre and Maria Fe Rosadena.

A third hostage released, Sheila Tabunag, was among those abducted from the provincial hospital of Basilan in June.

The four other hostages freed were in a group of coconut plantation workers seized in July.

U.S. assistance

The latest hostage release comes a week after one female hostage was freed.

Army chiefs from nine of 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are now meeting in Manila to reach an anti-terrorist agreement addressing such problems as cross-border arms smuggling and kidnapping.

High-level talks on American military assistance for Philippine troops pursuing the Abu Sayyaf are scheduled next week when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo meets President Geroge W. Bush in Washington.

The U.S. government has linked the Abu Sayyaf to Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

American military experts flew to Basilan in late October and pointed out that, besides the difficult jungle terrain, Philippine troops lacked the proper surveillance and communications equipment to speedily subdue the Abu Sayyaf.

Closing in

American military advisers are in the Philippines to provide logisitcal support to Philippine troops

Since September, Philippine troops have stepped up search-and-rescue offensives in the neighboring Abu Sayyaf strongholds of Basilan and Sulu.

Frequent gun battles have taken place, with scores of guerrillas killed or captured.

Military officials say casualties on their side have been minimal and believe their troops are closing in on the guerrilla group.

More than 70 people have been held captive by the Abu Sayyaf from four abductions since May.

More than a dozen have been beheaded, including American tourist Guillermo Sobero. His skeletal remains were found and identified only in October.