Zamboanga - Philippine officials said yesterday they feared Muslim rebels had killed one of three American hostages they are holding along with more than 20 Filipinos. The military had said earlier it could not confirm rebel claims to have beheaded Californian tourist Mr Guillermo Sobero, but the chief government spokesman said statements by Filipino hostages just freed by the rebels suggested the American may be dead.
Mr Francis Ganzon, one of three Filipinos freed four days ago, said on Saturday night that rebel spokesman Abu Sabaya had told him "Sobero is dead". He said the health of the remaining hostages was "deteriorating fast" and urged the government to send Red Cross workers to the rebel area.