1.   A congressional committee on Friday began probing allegations by a former hostage that the army accepted bribes to halt attacks against a Muslim extremist kidnap group.

2.   He said the kidnap group was fleeing from an ambush in which they killed a soldier and a woman and injured six others, including Siocon Mayor Jesusa Pastor.

3.   Makil Mama, a member of the kidnap group, earlier told reporters in Marawi that it would kill Maes if its demands were not met in two days.

4.   Several Muslim rebels have decided to quit the rebellion and operate kidnap groups.

5.   The groups say many kidnappings are never reported to police because of the common belief that police and military personnel are members of many kidnap groups.

6.   The pursuing soldiers initially killed the leader of the kidnap group, Corcha said.

7.   The rebels told the hostages they should show the receipts if they encountered other potential kidnap groups, the Inquirer said.

8.   However, officials reiterated that the Americans could only advise and train local troops and could not take part in actual combat with the kidnap group.

9.   The military said they could not confirm if the guerrillas slain in Zamboanga del Norte included the leaders of the kidnap group.

10.   The Pentagon kidnap group holds an Italian Roman Catholic priest hostage in central Mindanao.