UPDATE October 20,2008

There is an unconfirmed report of the ambush and killing of a priest and his military escorts on Oct 19. This was told by the Marines. Also, a Marine is hospitalized in the Hospital where the Healing House is located. He was hacked on the neck with a Bolo knife unexpectedly by the Abu Sayyaf at Campo Uno. Double Red Alert continues here on Basilan. The Marines continue to give me 24 hour body guards and I am OK.

The home next to where I am staying is the location where kidnapped Americans (BURNHAMS) were taken and given fresh clothing and allowed to bathe during the Lamitan Seige. This couple were American Missionaries in the Philipippines who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf from a resort on Palawan. Many others were also kidnapped at the time, including one American man who was beheaded and a also a Japanese woman . Martin Burnham was eventually killed but his wife survived and resides in the USA. They were held for over a year and the hardships are almost unbelievable. I am the first civilian American to be here since That Rescue. The stories of the locals and the traumas are many and I will try to tell them over time. I will also plan to tell more of the Burnhams' story of their experience in Mindanao with the Terrorists, The Islamic Abu Sayyaf.

Please forgive typos in this material. It is usually written hurridly.

Thanks for reading this information. Please peruse the pictures!!!!