Disguised as a woman, Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Sabaya, managed to escape a military cordon in Basilan island, southern Philippines, said a radio report that reached Manila. "He was covered from head to foot," said the report quoting unnamed sources.

The Abu Sayyaf Group, which is holding 21 hostages in one of the forested lairs in Basilan, has been the object of a full-scale military manhunt since May this year.

The same radio report said that Abu Sayyaf leader, Khadaffy Janjalani, and several bodyguards had left Basilan and were seen disembarking from a motorboat in the west coast of Zamboanga, a nearby port city. Sources in Basilan said Sabaya was believed to be heading for Davao city, a populous city in southern Mindanao.

The military recovered bloodied bandages at the places where the villagers had seen Janjalani and his bodyguards pass through. The same report said that Sabaya and Janjalani were not together. The military raised a red alert in Zamboanga City and Davao City, following the reports, but high-ranking officials refused to confirm the possible entry of Janjalani and Sabaya in these places.

"The report is being verified and properly attended to," said Southern Command spokesman, Lt. Col. Danilo Servando. "We cannot make any confirmation of this report," said Armed Forces spokesman, Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan.

Janjalani and Sabaya abducted three Americans and 17 Filipino tourists from a resort in Palawan, south-western Philippines, on May 27. The group got four more hostages in Lamitan, Basilan, on June 2, and 15 others in Lantawan, Basilan, on June 11.

Four were beheaded and 14 others were released after the alleged payment of an estimated $100,000 (P 5m) per head. The group earlier announced the beheading of American national Guillermo Sobero, but the military refused to declare him dead until his body is recovered.

The Armed Forces has posted 5,000 men and stepped up a military assault in several coastal towns in Basilan to arrest the Abu Sayyaf leaders and rescue their hostages, but sources said there has been a lull in military operations.

Noralyn Mustafa Our Jolo Correspondent adds:
Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, also known as "Commander Robot", has abandoned his plan to surrender to government authorities with the help of former Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson, sources said.

Andang has decided, instead, to join the Abu Sayyaf leaders who are holding 21 hostages in one of the towns in Basilan, said the same sources. Andang's change of heart occurred after Abu Sayyaf chief, Khaddafy Janjalani, and spokesperson, Abu Sabaya, succeeded in convincing him to re-unite with the Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan. Andang is based in Jolo.

Sources said he had changed his mind about "retiring" as he had been promised "a good deal". Andang earlier said he wanted to surrender on condition that Abu Sayyaf leader, Mujib Susukan, and his 19 followers would get a fair trial.

Last year, Andang rose to prominence after he and other Abu Sayyaf leaders in Jolo abducted 40 mostly foreign hostages who were taken separately from Malaysia's Sipadan island in April 2000, and from Jolo from July to August of the same year.