Philippine rebels plan to release three Filipino hostages among more than two dozen being held on southern Basilan island, an intermediary said today.
The planned release tomorrow would come a day after three severed heads were found in an area where the rebels said they beheaded a US tourist.
The Philippine military said they have found no trace of the American, Nr Guillermo Sobero. Hours after the heads were found an intermediary told reporters the Abu Sayyaf rebels planned to release three Filipinos tomorrow.
The intermediary, who asked not to be identified, said he had talked to rebel spokesman Abu Sabaya who told him of the planned release.
Army spokesman Lieut Col José Mabanta told reporters earlier that the heads were those of Filipinos and were already decomposing. "They could be anyone's", Col Mabanta said.
He said the heads were found in Tuburan municipality of Basilan island where a spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf gunmen said they had left Sobero's body after beheading him on June 12th.
Philippine authorities have said they believe Mr Sobero was killed even though his body has not been found. The US embassy in Manila said it was gravely concerned about his fate but there was no independent confirmation he was dead.