13 hostages rescued in raid on Abu Sayyaf

13 hostages rescued in raid on Abu Sayyaf

KAPATAGAN, Philippines (AFP): Philippine troops rescued 13 Filipino hostages Sunday and killed several Abu Sayyaf kidnappers in a pre-dawn raid in southern Basilan island, the military said.

Under cover of darkness, army troops attacked an Abu Sayyaf camp at 2:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. Jakarta time) in the hinterland village of Kapayawan on the outskirts of Basilan's capital town of Isabela, triggering a gunbattle.

The hostages, eight of them children between eight and 12 years old, were abandoned by the fleeing rebels.

"Undetermined number of enemies were killed in the operation," said local army spokesman Major Alberto Gepilano.

At least two attack helicopters bombarded an area near an army outpost in Kapatagan village near Kapawayan, where the rebels were believed to have fled, officials said.

The freed hostages were among 35 people seized by the Abu Sayyaf in a raid last Thursday on a predominantly Christian village in response to President Gloria Arroyo's massive military crackdown launched last month.

Five of the hostages were found beheaded on Friday, while five other headless bodies were recovered on Saturday.

With their muddy feet bearing wounds and bruises from three days of marching in Basilan's rugged terrain, the rescued hostages openly cried as they were bundled into a military truck to be returned to their homes.

Cecilia Ramirez, 42, went into shock when told that her husband, Tesoro, was among the 10 men killed by the Abu Sayyaf, who claim to be Moro militants but are dismissed by Manila as bandits.

Hermie Revillas, 29, said she and her eight-year-old son Aris survived the ordeal by sticking close to each other and striking up conversations with the rebels.