Muslim guerrillas in the southern Philippines released three Filipino hostages Saturday, a senior government official said, but there was no news on the whereabouts of three Americans held by the Abu Sayyaf.
The rebels turned over Lalaine Chua and Francis Ganzon to Islamic preacher Mohaimin Latip, who was himself held for a week when he visited the Abu Sayyaf camp and presented himself as a freelance negotiator, said the official, who asked not to be named.
He retracted his earlier statement saying 15-year-old Kimberly Jao had been released.
The three turned up in the Basilan town of Tipo-Tipo early Saturday and would be flown to Manila for a meeting with President Gloria Arroyo, he added.
Latip was earlier in the week said to have been one of the two headless corpses found in Basilan, but the Abu Sayyaf on Thursday allowed him to call a radio station to confirm he was still alive -- ISABELA, Philippines (AFP)
