The United States has offered high tech assistance in tracking the Abu Sayyaf rebels and their hostages. The rebels have threatened to kill their captives if the government does not back off. The rebels have not made any demands yet. The Abu Sayyaf are a splinter group from a rebel organization that made peace with the government several years ago. The Abu Sayyaf are basically bandits, seen as such even by other rebel groups. The government is organizing civilian vigilante groups (providing some guidance and communications) to seek out Abu Sayyaf. The civilians are attracted by the two million dollars of bounties placed on the kidnappers. Near the capital, NPA rebels killed two policemen and a civilian.