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Basilan, Southern Philippines - Since the September 11 attacks, the global war on terrorism has focused attention on a shadowy conflict in a remote part of the southern Philippines. The conflict is between government troops and a rebel group called Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network. More than 600 U.S. troops have been sent to Basilan island, south of Manila, to help equip and train Philippine soldiers. VOA correspondent Scott Bobb has the story from Basilan. In the forests of Basilan, Philippine rangers hunt for Abu Sayyaf guerrillas. At their base in the forest, the soldiers drill with live ammunition, practicing what to do in an ambush. They search the mountain island looking for Abu Sayyaf rebels who, for a decade, have terrorized this island of 300,000 people through murder and kidnapping for ransom. The rebels say they are fighting for an Islamic State. The government says they are criminals. Hundreds of people, Muslim and Christian, have been killed in the violence. The soldiers complain that the Abu Sayyaf, rich with ransom money, have newer, more sophisticated equipment. What they need is modern, high-tech gear. The U.S. government is giving it to them. Abu Sayyaf's Kidnap Victims A few kilometers outside the provincial capital, Isabela, lies Basilan's public hospital that provides free health care to poor residents. Muslims and Christians alike come for treatment. One of the doctors here was also one of the Abu Sayyaf's first victims. Nilo Barandino and 10 family members were kidnapped in 1992 and were held for months. Some were severely brutalized, before a ransom was paid and they were released. Dr. Barandino is also the local coroner. He keeps meticulous records, hoping one day they will help convict the rebels. "These pictures will really help us identify each and every kidnapper," he said. "Now if only the victims of the kidnap will have the same file, I think we'll be able to arrest them." Another victim of the Abu Sayyaf is Father Loi Nacorda, who heads the St. Joseph parish in Lamitan, a town up the coast. Father Loi was kidnapped in 1994. But he received national attention more recently when he accused local military leaders of collaborating with the Abu Sayyaf. Abu Sayyaf rebels invaded Father Loi's parish last June. Five parishioners were killed and the church was heavily damaged. The rebels occupied the parish hospital. They brought 22 hostages, including three Americans, seized from a tourist resort. The rebels took nurses and patients hostage as well. Government troops surrounded the parish and launched an attack. But Father Loi says 18 hours later the battle suddenly ended; government troops at the back of the compound withdrew. According to witnesses, an hour later the rebels left with the hostages through a small door in the wall, and escaped into the forest. "When they came out, they were just walking casually," he said. The soldiers said they had been summoned to a briefing. But local residents and a dozen lightly armed volunteers who were left behind don't believe it. "That is very clear to us here, very clear, that there was really a communication between the Abu Sayyaf and some military officials for them to be able to escape," he said. Father Loi added the hostages who later escaped said they saw senior military officials give a ...