June 7, 1994, Seattle Times News Services, Muslim rebels attack convoy, kill 16 Filipino hostages,

June 7, 1994, Seattle Times News Services, Muslim rebels attack convoy, kill 16 Filipino hostages,

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines - Followers of a renegade Muslim extremist waylaid a civilian convoy today, seized about 50 hostages and killed at least 16, officials said.

A wounded survivor said the four gunmen killed male hostages because they were a burden as the rebels fled pursuing troops. He said he did not know what had happened to five women and a Roman Catholic priest who were separated from the other hostages.

Basilan police chief Jundam Abdula said armed followers of Abubakar Janjalani, leader of the Abu Sayyaf group, stopped a convoy of one bus and two jeeps seven miles from the town of Isabela on Basilan.

About 90 people were believed in the convoy. Police said the gunmen seized about 50 passengers and drivers, but released all but 22.

In a radio dispatch from Basilan, Christopher Puno, spokesman for the 2nd Marine Brigade, reported that 16 hostages had been killed.

Kidnappings are common in Muslim areas of the southern Philippines, in part because those responsible are rarely prosecuted due to because of their links to influential clans.

Troops launched a major operation last week to destroy the fundamentalist Abu Sayyaf group, responsible for many bombings and kidnappings in the south.