MANILA, Philippines — Four members of the Abu Sayyaf, the terrorist Islamic group holding missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham hostage, died in a brief skirmish with Philippine troops March 19. The battle occurred on the island of Basilan where Abu Sayyaf forces are holding the Burnhams and a Filipino nurse, Deborah Yap.
“There are positive indications for [the Burnhams] swift recovery,” military spokesman Major Noel Detoyato told Reuters News Service. March 22 marked the 300th day of captivity for the Burnhams.
The United States is now involved in the effort to recover the Burnhams. Since February, U.S. troops have been stationed in the Philippines to train and coordinate military efforts against the Abu Sayyaf. The terrorist group allegedly has financial ties to the Al Qaeda terrorist network.
But New Tribes Mission officials said March 26 in a news release that the agency is not paying a ransom or raising money for a ransom, denying a report made by a U.S. news network.
Share with others: