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.