November 27, 2003

  Another kidnapping tragedy is playing out on Jolo island. Five men, apparently Filipino Moslems, who were illegal immigrants working at a Malaysian resort, were kidnapped by about a dozen armed men. At first it was thought the kidnappers were Abu Sayyaf. But one of the captives escaped and reported that the kidnappers were a Filipino pirate gang. The pirates initially demanded $50 million ransom from the Malaysian government, but are now asking for less than three million bucks and are being chased in the same areas of southern Philippines where the military is looking for Abu Sayyaf.