Al Muhayser Tilao, the brother of Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya, was captured by government troops Friday when they raided a suspected Sayyaf hide-out in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, the military said yesterday.

Three other members of the Abu Sayyaf were captured with him while one was killed when Marines raided their hideout in the southern island of Jolo on Friday, Lieutenant Abdurafad Sirajan, head of town security, said.

Maj. Alberto Gepilano, army spokesman of a task force in charge of rescue operations in the south, said soldiers stormed the central market in the Sulu capital of Jolo at about 12:15 p.m., triggering a shoot out that left one Abu Sayyaf fighter dead.

He added that the four Abu Sayyaf members abandoned their dead companion as they were pursued by soldiers through the crowded marketplace after the shoot out. All four were later captured.

One of the four was identified as Tilao, whose capture has been described by Maj. Gepilano as "a big blow to the Abu Sayyaf".

Maj. Gepilano noted that Tilao, an active Abu Sayyaf "ranking sub-leader", carries a P150,000 ($2,885) price tag on his head based on an order issued by the Philippine government two or three years ago.

He added that the captured Moro bandits, who had been using Jolo's central market as their hide-out, were brought to an army camp in Jolo town where they are undergoing investigation.

Maj. Gepilano said no civilian casualties had been reported as the raid happened during prayer time and most people were in the local Jolo mosque. He noted that most Abu Sayyaf members are engaged in some kind of business enterprise, which explained whey they had their hide-out in the central market.