Philippine troops intensify offensive against terrorists

SIRAWAI, Philippines -- Muslim extremist rebels eluded pursuers Saturday but U.S.-trained Philippine troops said the guerrillas are more vulnerable and scrambling to avoid capture.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pledged that troops would now unleash their full arsenal on the rebels because Philippine forces will not have to worry about harming hostages.

"Now they can really be in hot pursuit and they are doing that," Arroyo said.

On Saturday, troops displayed the trademark sunglasses of the Abu Sayyaf leader as evidence the fighters were on a desperate -- perhaps final -- scramble in the southern Philippines.

The sunglasses and backpack of guerrilla chief Abu Sabaya were recovered after Philippine troops ambushed the group Friday in a mountainous area near Sirawai town, about 470 miles south of Manila, the military said.

After Friday's bloody gun battle that ended the yearlong hostage crisis, soldiers found the bodies of Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap and missionary Martin Burnham of Wichita, Kan. Burnham's wife, Gracia, survived with a bullet wound to her thigh.

Remains to Japan

Martin Burnham's body was flown Saturday to Kadena Air Base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, where it likely would be autopsied, U.S. officials said.

Gracia Burnham, 43, had surgery in the southern city of Zamboanga and was flown to Manila for further treatment.

U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said Gracia Burnham would return to the United States "in a few days" and that she was recovering well.

She "was very alert, cheerful and very insightful about her experience" during a private, 20-minute meeting Saturday night with Arroyo at a U.S. Embassy-owned compound in Manila, Ricciardone said.

The Philippine leader said she feared Abu Sayyaf leaders might flee the country, and Manila would urge Malaysia and Indonesia to detain them if they seek refuge in those Muslim nations.

Earlier Saturday, Arroyo acknowledged that the rescue mission, dubbed "Operation Daybreak," was "not a total success" because of the hostage deaths. Four rebels also died and seven soldiers were injured, the military said.