The Philippine military is considering using US military UAS to search for kidnapped Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell, who is being held by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.
Officials say the aircraftwould make it easier for ground troops to locate members of the al-Qaeda-linked group who have demanded a ransom for Mr Rodwell, a 53-year-old prolific world traveller from Sydney who has been held captive since December 5.
But the officials say the aircraft will find it difficult to penetrate thick jungle on Basilan island, a stronghold of the group where Mr Rodwell has been sighted.
US troops training Filipino soldiers to fight terrorists have a small fleet of unmanned aircraft deployed in Zamboanga City on Mindanao island, several kilometres from Basilan.
Philippine troops used the aircraft and an Orion P3 spy plane to search for American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, Californian Guillermo Sobero and a dozen Filipinos who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in 2001.
Up to 2,000 soldiers are searching for Mr Rodwell, a former Australian soldier, who was kidnapped by four men posing as policemen from his home near the seaside town of Ipil on Mindanao island. He is believed to have been shot in the foot.
Source: SMH