They (the kidnappers) were terrorists from the south. We have not identified their specific group . . . We have launched pursuit operations,

It takes time, it takes manpower, it takes aircraft, ships, to verify this. That's why we are calling on all citizens to help the government, to help the military, to help the police in providing information.

All have been accounted for ... No gun battle took place,

We hope that in the next few hours, or thereabouts, we will get more concrete information about these hostages,

He appeared to have died on the night of June 11 after he was hog-tied and separated from the rest of the hostages.

No new troops were added,