Zamboanga - Philippine rebels who took 20 people hostage at the weekend said they were fired on by the military when they landed on a southern island early this morning. Abu Sabaya, a spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf rebels, called a local radio station while the gunfight was in progress and threatened to kill hostages if the assault continued.
Sabaya said the group now had 30 hostages, including fishermen picked up along the way to the island of Jolo, 960 km south of Manila. Sounds of gunfire could be heard in the background as the radio station broadcast his call.
"We will be having a mass execution if they continue," Sabaya said. He said he was not aware if the hostages were safe. "We had just landed and I told the hostages to take a bath when the military started firing," he said. There was no immediate comment from military officials.
The rebels took three Americans and 17 Filipinos at gunpoint from the Dos Palmas island resort at dawn on Sunday.