May 21, 2001 Abu Sayyaf kidnappings
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A hostage crisis which initially took place on an upscale western Philippines island resort organized by Abu Sayyaf guerrilla leader Abu Sabaya. Twenty hostages were initially captured without incident among them were three American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, and Guillermo. The hostages were transported to Basilan island where eventually one of the three American hostages was beheaded as an "independence-day gift" to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, another was killed in a botched rescue attempt while the lone woman among the three was rescued. The search for the hostages eventually lead to a 6 month deployment of 1,000 American troops which provided training and high-tech support to the less equipped and experienced Filipino troops.
