Seven Filipinos walked to freedom yesterday after months of captivity with Muslim extremists linked to Osama bin Laden.
The Filipino military said it expected to free the remaining hostages soon, including an American couple.
Officials refused to give details of the release of the seven and it was not clear if they had been freed in exchange for ransom, were rescued or had escaped after nearly six months of captivity in the jungles of southern Basilan island.
"With God's blessing, we might rescue them in the next several days," the southern commander Lieut-Gen Roy Cimatu told reporters, referring to the US missionary couple, Mr Martin and Ms Gracia Burnham from Wichita, Kansas, and another Filipino still held by the Abu Sayyaf gunmen.
The United States has linked the Abu Sayyaf to Saudi-born militant bin Laden and his al Qaeda network, prime suspects in the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington.
The seven Filipinos included three women, one of whom wept when she spoke of the ordeals she said the Burnhams were suffering.
"Martin and Gracia . . . we will find a way to help you," Ms Angie Montealegre, wearing a Muslim head-dress, promised. "We will try our best so that you will meet your family again this Christmas."
"I love you, Martin and Gracia. Take care of yourselves," the emaciated-looking Ms Montealegre said. Before she got separated from the Burnhams, Montealegre said Gracia gave her a letter for her family.