RP to probe military link to kidnappers

RP to probe military link to kidnappers

PHILIPPINES: President Gloria Arroyo ordered on Thursday an investigation into allegations by a former American hostage that military officials had colluded with the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group.

The charges were made in a book by Gracia Burnham, an American missionary who was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in 2001 and rescued by Philippine soldiers after more than a year in June of last year.

Burnham's husband Martin, who was also held captive, and a Filipina hostage were killed in the military rescue operation. A third U.S. hostage, Guillermo Sobero of California, along with several Filipino hostages were beheaded by the rebels in the course of the year-long hostage crisis.

In a speech to a religious group, Arroyo stressed her "unremitting confidence" in the armed forces in its continuing fight to crush the Abu Sayyaf, but stressed a probe into Burnham's claim was necessary. --AFP