Military denies arrest of Sayyaf sub-leader

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military denied yesterday reports that a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf has been arrested, but said that the hunt for the extremist group continues in full swing in the jungles of Sulu.

Col. Alexander Yapching, chief of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade based in Sulu, said a check with his battalion commanders and Marine units yielded no such reports.

A Manila-based television station reported that an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader with a P1-million prize on his head has been captured.

Yapching said a series of encounters with Abu Sayyaf members two weeks ago led to the arrest of seven rebels and the seizure of 23 high-powered firearms.

He said the extremist group has broken into smaller units to elude pursuing government troopers.

"What is sure here is that we have ongoing pursuit and tracking operations against the Abu Sayyaf," he said.

Yapching estimates that the Abu Sayyaf still has more than 100 hardcore members, with an undetermined number of armed sympathizers.

The Misuari breakaway group, composed of diehards of the jailed former leader of the Moro National Liberation Front, has struck an alliance with the Abu Sayyaf, the military said.

The United States has linked the extremist group, involved in several kidnappings for ransom of both locals and foreigners in southern Philippines, with the al-Qaeda network of international terrorist Osama bin Laden.

In his speech to Congress last Saturday, US President George W. Bush committed his government’s help in fighting the Abu Sayyaf.

"My government and yours are pursuing a common objective: We will bring the Abu Sayyaf to justice," he said.