Police said the abductors were likely members of Abu Sayyaf, an extremist Muslim group that gained attention last year when it took foreign tourists hostage. All the hostages have since been freed, some reportedly for large ransoms. He said the gang released the 38 passengers before midnight Friday but kept the captain and three crew members, the military said. Last month, several Abu Sayyaf members were killed in clashes with local militias. The Abu Sayyaf, which says it is fighting to carve a separate Islamic state out of the area, darts between the remote, jungle-covered islands to attack the military and hide hostages.
Militias patrol many of the villages.
Military officials said the Abu Sayyaf has regrouped in the last two weeks as the military was called off to guard voting in May 14 midterm elections. Copyright 2001, The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP Online news report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Please read it.