Sobero unseen among hostages

Sobero unseen among hostages

ISABELA, Philippines (AFP): Concern grew Saturday about the
fate of U.S. hostage Guillermo Sobero, as the Philippine military
said there was no sign of the American in numerous sightings of
captives held by guerrillas on Basilan island.

Four days after the Abu Sayyaf gunmen claimed to have beheaded
Sobero as a gruesome gift to the government, officials said they
had no evidence to show the Californian was dead or alive.

"There have been numerous sightings of the Abu Sayyaf and
their hostages (but) no sightings of Sobero," a military official
involved in the Basilan operations said.

Soldiers and civilians have seen the Muslim separatists
herding the hostages, trying to get out of areas targeted by
military operations, he said.

The Abu Sayyaf abducted Sobero and two other Americans, Martin
and Gracia Burnham, from a resort on May 27. They are also
holding at least two dozen Filipinos, captured in a series of
raids.