Troops killed several Abu Sayyaf members last month as Arroyo ordered a raid on the rebels Associated Press reported the kidnappers, likely to be the members of the Abu Sayyaf group, captured the sailors to avenge the deaths of gang members in recent clashes. Last month, several Abu Sayyaf members were killed in clashes with local militias. The kidnap took place in the Basilan area. Attackers in five speedboats stormed the ferry, according to Colonel Juvenal Narcise, the area military commander. The Abu Sayyaf, which says it is fighting to create a separate Islamic state, darts from remote, jungle-covered islands to attack the military and hide hostages.
Militias patrol many of the villages.
Associated Press reported military officials said the Abu Sayyaf has regrouped in the past two weeks as the military was called off to provide security in May 14 midterm elections. Earlier on Tuesday, gunmen attacked a tourist resort on the southern island of Samal, killing two people and snatching two Filipino hostages, who were later released. Troops are chasing the gang which retreated to the mountains after snatching four villagers to use as human shields. Foreigners taken The Abu Sayyaf last year seized more than 40 foreigners and Filipinos from two tourist resorts in nearby Malaysia and from Jolo island in the southern Philippines. Many of the victims were released by the Abu Sayyaf after the payment of large ransoms.