11.  Philippine forces hoped to prevent the rebels from reaching their base on Jolo island, keep the group intact and mount a rescue operation, Adan said.

12.  A top Pentagon official said U.S. and Philippine forces are getting closer to finding the American hostages.

13.  A top Pentagon official says U.S. and Philippine forces are getting closer to finding the American couple.

14.  A top Pentagon official says U.S. and Philippine forces are getting closer to finding the American hostages.

15.  Both U.S. and Philippine military forces were searching the area.

16.  Commanding the Philippine contingent is Commodore Adolf Borje, commander of southern Philippine naval forces.

17.  Col. Alexander Aleo, commander of the Philippine forces training with the Americans on Basilan, said the flight had been uneventful before the crash.

18.  However, Maj. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, commander of Philippine forces in the south, would not confirm that Martin Burnham had been killed.

19.  Maj. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, who heads southern Philippine military forces, said troops were closing in on the guerrillas but chasing them in the large region was difficult.

20.  No group has claimed responsibility or demanded ransom, and Maj. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, who heads southern Philippine forces, declined to speculate on who was involved.