US also hoping for safe recovery of Burnhams

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The United States military expressed hope yesterday that the three hostages being held by Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Western Mindanao would also be released like Italian priest Fr. Guiseppe Pierantoni.

US army Maj. Cynthia Teramae, spokeswoman for the US forces participating in the ongoing joint RP-US military exercises, said Pierantoni’s release from the custody of the Pentagon based in Central Mindanao was a good sign.

"We are proud to hear about the hostage released this morning. With the intensified operations, we hope the Burnhams and Mrs. Yap would come home very soon," Teramae said.

"It shows what a great job the Armed Forces of the Philippines is doing in their quest to counter terrorism here," she said.

Pierantoni was recovered by police and military agents in Upper Tungawan town in Zamboanga del Sur around 2 a.m. yesterday and brought to Dipolog City from where he was airlifted to Manila.

Pierantoni’s release reduced to three the number of foreigners being held hostage by various kidnapping gangs in Mindanao. Aside from the Burnhams, the other kidnapped foreigner is Korean Jae Kwoon-yoon who is believed held somewhere in North Cotabato