COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Cecilia Lazaro is following this story, and she joins us now by telephone from Manila. Cecilia, is it any clearer now what the fate of this gentleman is?</s>CECILIA LAZARO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Colleen, 12 hours after the rebel group Abu Sayyaf announced over local radio that they have beheaded Guillermo Sobero, one of the American hostages, there has been no official confirmation of the claim made by the group's spokesperson. The government announced it will step up military operations in the area, and the deployment of additional troops has already begun. The U.S. Embassy in Manila also issued a statement condemning the murder in the strongest possible terms -- Colleen.</s>MCEDWARDS: Cecilia, this is not the first time the Abu Sayyaf have taken hostages, and in the past, some negotiations have taken place. Has the new government in the Philippines said anything about whether there will be any negotiations, and if so, at what point?</s>LAZARO: Well, the Philippine government has reiterated their stand that there will be no negotiations for ransom. They have appointed a negotiator for the government, but Abu Sayyaf, in its latest demands, ask that the Malaysians and the Libyans be allowed to be part of the negotiating team. Yesterday, the government acceded to that request. But despite that concession, the Abu Sayyaf claim today that they proceeded to behead Guillermo Sobero.</s>MCEDWARDS: Cecilia Lazaro watching that story for us from Manila. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Filipino Rebels Announce Beheading Hostage