"We are hopeful we can get them back alive. We have already pinpointed the possible safehouse of the kidnappers and our operations are concentrated there so far," Villanueva said.
Villanueva said elements of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division are closing in on the area in Maguindanao where Chinese national Zhang Zhongyi and his guide Edwin Lim are being held by the so-called "Pentagon Gang."
"We have to make sure that the hostages are safe once we initiate an offensive — that is our primary objective here. We just can’t rush their safehouse with guns blazing," he said.
Zhang and Lim were in a four-man team that had gone with ransom money to seek the freedom of Zhang Zhong-qiang, who was kidnapped on June 20.
But the rebels captured all four and took the P5-million ransom as well. Zhang Zhong-qiang and a compatriot were killed during a gunbattle when the military staged a rescue, while another Chinese captive escaped.
Chinese authorities had expressed "deep concern" to the Philippine government over the killings. President Arroyo has instructed the military and police to ensure the safety of the remaining hostages.
Villanueva said the operations against the Pentagon group will not affect the ceasefire agreement between the government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Meanwhile, presidential adviser on the peace process Eduardo Ermita said chief government negotiator Jesus Dureza would ask the MILF about allegations that the kidnappers holding Zhang and Lim were under the separatist group’s command.
Ermita said the government was checking the MILF’s statement that it was not involved with the Pentagon.
Although the kidnappers are believed to be former MILF members, Ermita said "what they (the MILF) are saying may be true since we cannot really say they control all their people."
He said Dureza has been sent to meet with MILF leaders in the South to keep alive peace talks amid renewed fighting there.
Dureza’s visit comes after clashes between the military forces and the MILF around Datu Piang town in Maguindanao killed some 15 rebels last weekend.
"This fighting could be considered a violation of the ceasefire agreement reached in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 7," Ermita said.
Days of fighting ended Tuesday, military officials said.
Ermita would not say who started the fighting but stressed that under the ceasefire agreement, "the AFP and the police are allowed to conduct operations if there is a crime going on."
MILF representatives claimed the military used a family feud between two rival Muslim clans as an excuse to attack them.