Philippines soldiers yesterday recovered what officials believe is the executed remains of a U.S. hostage kidnapped in June by the militant Abu Sayyaf group.

Three members of the dreaded group, who surrendered to the military, led soldiers into the Tipo-Tipo jungle and disinterred the remains of Guillermo Sobero from a shallow grave, said army brigade commander, Col. Hermogenes Esperon.

Sobero was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in June. At that time, rebel spokesman Abu Sabaya publicly announced on local radio his group was beheading Sobero, who hails from California, as an 'Independence Day' gift to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after she rejected their demands to allow Malaysia to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of foreign hostages.

Yesterday, Esperon said: "Based on witness accounts, we have reason to believe it is Sobero's remains, but there must first be further tests by forensic experts."

He said his troops were taken across rugged terrain for hours before reaching the grave site deep in the forest.

Last week, security forces near Tipo-Tipo town found items of clothing thought to belong to a foreigner, said Esperon.