Philippine kidnappers split up to evade troops

Soldiers unload supplies from a navy ship on Basilan island as they intensify their search for Abu Sayyaf kidnappers

By staff and wire reports

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- Kidnappers in the Philippines, who have threatened to behead three American hostages, have split up to move more swiftly and evade capture by military forces.

The news comes amid reports that other Muslim separatist rebels might be assisting the Muslim Abu Sayyaf gunmen evade Philippines security forces.

Eduardo Ermita, presidential adviser on the peace process, said it was "very possible" some Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members were aiding the Abu Sayyaf.

"We know that the official policy of the MILF is that they do not tolerate the activities of the Abu Sayyaf," he was quoted saying. "But we cannot discount that some MILF members are helping their relatives in the Abu Sayyaf."

Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said some 100 Abu Sayyaf gunmen holding 13 captives have separated into at least two groups to evade army searches and reach their main base on Jolo Island.

Dense undergrowth

Adan said small groups could hide from army patrols only a few meters away hidden by the dense jungle which covers much of the southern island of Basilan.

It also appears to undermine prospects for ending the saga quickly.

Adan said it was not clear how many hostages each splinter group has or which group held three American tourists abducted at a beach resort May 27.

Soldiers continue to comb Basilan for the kidnappers

The other hostages are Filipinos taken from the resort and medical workers captured during the gunmen's occupation of a hospital in the town Lamitan last weekend.

Adan said thousands of soldiers are "all over" Basilan, adding "we don't think (the rebels) can go very far." On Thursday, MILF spokesman Eid Cabalu denied the group was helping the Abu Sayyaf evade capture, and accused the military of using them as scapegoats for lapses in the rescue operations.

Independence fighters

The MILF, the largest Muslim rebel group operating in the southern region of Mindanao, has been fighting for an independent Islamic state since 1978.

The Philippine government and the MILF are scheduled to resume formal peace talks on June 20 in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

As the hostage drama drags well into its second week, Manila has repeated itcontinues to plead with the kidnappers not to harm American hostages Guillermo Sobero and missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.

American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham are among the hostages

Sobero and the Burnhams were among 20 people abducted May 27 in an Abu Sayyaf raid on a beach resort across the Sulu Sea.

Nine hostages escaped during clashes between Philippine soldiers and the kidnappers last weekend.

However, two others -- a resort security guard and a cook -- were found hacked to death close to Lamitan. One was beheaded.

On Thursday, Abu Sayyaf leader, Abu Sabaya, threatened to "chop the heads off the Americans in 72 hours" unless the Philippine government appoints two Malaysian negotiators to mediate their release.

Sabaya has made similar threats toward foreign hostages in the past but has never delivered on them.

He said he wants the government to appoint former Malaysian lawmaker Sairin Karno and merchant Yusof Hamdan as mediators for the hostages' release.

Sabaya gave a deadline of noon Wednesday for the negotiators to be appointed, but hours after the deadline passed, the militants had not called back to say whether they had carried out their threat.

Military casualties

The Philippine military says 15 soldiers have been killed and 51 wounded in a week of fighting. Abu Sayyaf casualties are not known.

The group says that American missionary Martin Burnham was shot in the back by military troops pursuing them, but the military has not yet verified the claim.

The kidnappers have said they will only negotiate with the Philippine government if military offensives are halted.

But President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's government has so far said it would not call off a military assault on rebel positions.

Meanwhile U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation officials have arrived in Basilan province to assist the Philippine government in the hostage crisis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.