Philippine military "connived" with rebels

The Abu Sayyaf has carried out a series of raids

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has ordered an investigation into allegations that military officers took bribes from Abu Sayyaf Muslim kidnappers holding about 20 hostages.

The allegations were made by a Roman Catholic priest on the southern island of Basilan who narrowly escaped being kidnapped by the group in June.

We believe that there was connivance... we have strong and hard evidence.

Father Cirilo Nacorda

Speaking to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper, Father Cirilo Nacorda said five senior military officers deliberately allowed the kidnappers to escape past a military cordon on the island in exchange for money.

The officers - a general, a colonel, a major and two captains - have denied the claims.

But after much newspaper speculation President Arroyo said Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes would look into it.

"I would not want to believe it but in the interest of transparency, I have instructed Reyes to order an inquiry in the defence department and armed forces itself," Ms Arroyo told reporters.

Kidnapping spree

Mr Reyes has described the priest's statements as "wild, preposterous accusations".

"I know these officers and they will not do such things and I assure you these accusations are without basis," he told reporters.

The Abu Sayyaf say they are fighting for a separate state

The Abu Sayyaf say they are fighting for independence for the Muslim minority in the south of the mainly Christian Philippines, but the government says they are nothing but criminals.

The group seized about 20 people captured during raids in May, including two Americans taken from a luxury beach resort. The rebels say they have beheaded a third American hostage, but no body has been found.

The gunmen have freed some Filipino hostages reportedly for large ransom payments, seized more captives and killed four of their Filipino hostages.

'Tactical lapses'

Father Cirilo narrowly escaped a raid on 2 June when rebels seized his church in the Basilan town of Lamitan.

He says he has evidence that five military officers, including then Army First Division commander Brigadier General Romeo Dominguez, pulled out troops to allow the kidnappers to escape.

Brigadier General Dominguez has said there may have been "tactical lapses" but denied working with the rebels. He has threatened to sue the priest for libel.

About 5,000 soldiers have been trying to catch the kidnappers without success.

There have been growing accusations from the press and public that the military is secretly working with the rebels for a share of the ransom, or are simply incompetent.

"You can't blame an exasperated public for thinking that military commanders are either monumentally inept or deliberately allowing the Abu Sayyaf to get away with murder," the Philippine Star newspaper said in an editorial.