Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Two Hostages Beheaded in Philippines

Aired August 22, 2002 - 08:02   ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to a story, a rather grizzly story overseas in the southern Philippines. Authorities say two men have been beheaded by the Muslim extremists who abducted them.
Maria Ressa reporting now live from Manila, who's been tracking this story.

What more do we know?

Maria, hello.

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, hello.

There were six Christians, all Jehovah's Witnesses. They were selling products like Avon cosmetics door to door in a very remote, fiercely Muslim area. Philippine police say they were carrying bibles and Christian leaflets.

On Tuesday, they were kidnapped by a group of armed Muslim men. One of the men identified as the nephew of the leader of the Abu Sayyaf group in that area. The al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf was a target of joint U.S. and Philippine military exercises, just ended July 31.

On Thursday, authorities found the severed heads of two of these men in a Jolo marketplace. Taped on one of the heads of the men was a sign that said, "This is what will happen to those who do not believe in Allah."

Four women remain hostage. The Philippine military believes the Abu Sayyaf is behind this. Jolo is one of the two strongholds of the Abu Sayyaf, but many other armed Muslim groups operate in that area. It's known as the wild west of the Philippines. The main problem there is the breakdown of law and order.

Filipino officials do say that U.S. authorities have a proposal on the table to bring U.S. troops to Jolo when the next round of counter-terrorism exercises begin in October.

Back to you, Bill.

HEMMER: Maria, thank you.

Maria Ressa reporting again from the Philippines.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com