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American Morning

Unconfirmed Reports Say American Hostage in the Philippines Beheaded

Aired June 12, 2001 - 11:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: But first, breaking news from the Philippines about the hostage situation there. There are reports out of the Philippines that an American has been beheaded. These reports have not confirmed yet. Also, in the last hour and a half, authorities have found a human torso there. Not clear, though, if it belongs to the American in question.

For the latest, let's go live to CNN State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel. Andrea, good morning.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. That's right, a gruesome discovery today in the Philippines, the torso, a human torso. Officials say they are unsure, obviously who this person is. A very gruesome thought, thinking that they need to find the head of the torso, but that is in fact what Philippine authorities are searching for right now and for that reason, as you pointed out, U.S. officials saying that they cannot confirm if in fact the 40-year-old American from Corona, California, Guillermo Sobero, has in fact been beheaded as claimed by Abu Sayyaf terrorist groups.

Now, having said that, some of his family members who first heard about this last night spoke to reporters, and obviously this is an excruciating wait for them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALBERTO SOBERO, BROTHER OF HOSTAGE: The State Department has called and so has the FBI, and they have said that they cannot confirm those reports that the Associated Press has put out.

QUESTION: Are they remaining in touch with you tonight until they confirm either way?

SOBERO: Well, I don't think -- I hope -- I'm hoping that I will not get the phone call. I still have hope that my brother is still alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AIMEE SOBERO, DAUGHTER OF HOSTAGE: I pray all the time, but all of a sudden they said we're not going to do it and then boom, they say they did it. I don't think that's -- like out of the blue or -- they said they were going to do their demands.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Now, the demands of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group have been to have their own separatist, Muslim, Islamic state in the Philippines, the Southern Philippines, something that the Philippine government has been opposed to.

Now, having said that, the U.S. government has also labeled them a foreign terrorist group for other previous kidnappings, other bombings and such, and they say that the Philippine government is in the lead on this. There are, in addition to the allegations of kidnapping of Mr. Corona -- excuse me of Mr. Sobero, there are two other American missionaries who are believed to have been kidnapped, Abu Sayyaf claiming they've been kidnapped.

These are two Americans from Wichita, Kansas, by the names of Martin and Gracia Burnham. They are apparently a husband and wife. All three Americans, including Mr. Sobero, were kidnapped at the end of May from a Philippines resort, a diving resort where they had been vacationing, Daryn, and U.S. officials, for that very reason, are cautioning Americans not to travel to certain islands within the Philippines, telling them that obviously the situation is quite dangerous for Americans -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Andrea Koppel at the State Department, thank you. This, obviously, is a developing story, and we will bring you the latest as it comes in. Andrea, thank you.

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