Philippines: August 9, 2001

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Media reports that army officers were bribed by the Abu Sayyaf to allow the rebels to escape capture have created calls for a government investigation. Former Abu Sayyaf captives reported that the rebels spoke of paying off officers to help the rebels escape capture. The reports are credible because the Abu Sayyaf is known to have millions of dollars of ransom money, and corruption in the Philippine government is common. The army has refused the allegations.