Local and central government officials, the media, and even friends have forgotten Filipina nurse, Deborah Yap, who is still in the custody of the Abu Sayyaf in the hinterland of Basilan, southern Philippines, her brother said.

"The government, the military, and government officials have given their full attention to the American hostages. It seems that my sister has been forgotten. I am worried about what might happen to her," said David Pamaran who flew to Manila to attend a prayer rally launched by the Philippine Nurses' Association in suburban Quezon City's central park and at the EDSA Shrine on the suburban San Juan side.

"Why is Deborah forgotten?" asked Pamaran, hinting that the government has become too pro-American and colonial, echoing leftist critics of the U.S. presence in Basilan where the Abu Sayyaf Group is holding their hostages.

"We hope Deborah is not forgotten by the government," said Catholic Priest Socrates. The nurses said they launched the prayer rally to remind the government that they should take care of Yap's fate.

"She is a wife, a nurse, a mother of four," said a news reporter who covered the prayer rally for Yap.Yap's family received a $ 20,000 (P 1 million) ransom demand from the Abu Sayyaf. "We don't have that kind of money," said Pamaran.

Yap was treating a wounded person when taken by the Abu Sayyaf members who brought their hostages from Palawan to Lamitan in June last year.

In Basilan, many reporters criticised missing TV reporter, Arlene de la Cruz, for not interviewing Yap when she went to the Abu Sayyaf camp and only interviewing U.S. missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.

The CBS and local agency, Net 25, showed the video-tape. Sources said nurses all over the country will be holding a prayer rally in their respective places to highlight the importance of Yap as a hostage worth rescuing.

Sources said no Abu Sayyaf hostage has been released without ransom payment. Yap's family has launched a campaign for her because negotiators might forget her, sources said.

The military has recently released a statement claiming that hostage Rolandullah, who was kidnapped in Sipadan, Malaysia, in 2002, has joined the Abu Sayyaf.

"It's a pity because he is a victim and, if he is no longer considered a hostage, the military will not be pressured to rescue him," said an observer. As a result, Roland's wife has been campaigning before the southern command to consider her husband a victim, not an Abu Sayyaf follower.

"It's the only way she can pressure the military to mount a rescue operation for Roland," noted the same observer who requested anonymity. "The government should try to get all the names of the hostages and try to rescue them," the observer said.

The problem is "the U.S. has a way of making its case prominent, and creating a stronger concern for the Burnhams", said the observer.