Abus ready to free Gracia Burnham

Abu Sayyaf bandits are mulling the release of American hostage Gracia Burnham ahead of her husband Martin and Filipino nurse Deborah Yap, a government emissary said yesterday.

The unnamed negotiator said a government team was persuading the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers to free all three hostages at the same time, but the captors would want to retain two for use as human shields in case of a military attack.

The source, who requested anonymity, said he brought medicine and other provisions to the hostages who have been held in the Abu Sayyaf’s jungle lairs in Basilan for nearly a year.

He said the bandits were considering the release of Gracia because of the delicate condition of her health even as her husband has also manifested signs of malaria.

Gracia was reportedly afflicted with urinary tract infection.

"We learned that the Abu Sayyaf may release Gracia because of that situation," the source said, adding that they were not giving up on efforts to secure the simultaneous release of all three captives.

However, military authorities in Zamboanga City denied any knowledge about back-channel negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf, and that their all-out search and rescue operations for the hostages were ongoing.

Maj. Gen. Glicerio Sua, commander of Task Force Comet which is conducting the search and rescue operations, stressed that the government would not allow any ransom negotiations.

Elements of Task Force Comet were carrying out their mission under the tutelage of some 160 elite United States forces taking part in a six-month joint military training exercise in the island-province of Basilan.

Meanwhile, US Rep. Robert Underwood of Guam flew into Manila yesterday to visit the US troops participating in the joint maneuvers called Balikatan 02-1.

"We want to make sure that we are helpful to the Philippines, and this trip signals strong US support for them," Underwood said in a statement before flying to Basilan.

Underwood, the first American legislator to visit the American troops since Balikatan took off last January, was accompanied in the trip by Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster, commander of the 1,000-strong US contingent.

Underwood represents the South Pacific territory of Guam as a non-voting delegate of the US Congress. He is also a member of the House armed services committee. — With AP report