Wednesday, August 23, 2006 (Philippines)

Prisoners take civilians and jail guards as hostages during a mock hostage taking and rescue drill inside the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center last week. The training is part of an enhance security program aiming to upgrade the capabilities of prison guards in Zamboanga City. (Sunnex/Al Jacinto) ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Marine soldiers recovered a huge cache of suspected Abu Sayyaf chemicals used in the manufacture of homemade explosives in the province of Sulu, officials said on Tuesday. Officials said soldiers were pursuing the Abu Sayyaf when they found at least 10 sacks of ammonium nitrate in the hinterland village of Darayan in Patikul town over the weekend. "The chemicals are believed owned by the Abu Sayyaf and is main component of IEDs (improvised explosive devices)," said Lt. Col. Susthenes Valcorza, spokesman of the Southern Command. Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo [full story]