The Philippine National Police is poised to carry out a crackdown on criminal syndicates operating in the capital, similar to operations conducted against members and supporters of the extremist Abu Sayyaf in southern Basilan and Sulu provinces.

According to PNP Director General Leandro Mendoza, the crackdown will focus on individuals suspected of being members of 18 syndicates in Metro Manila who were involved in kidnap-for-ransom, drugs proliferation, illegal gambling and anti-government activities.

Mendoza said the arrests will be carried out against individuals who are already covered by outstanding warrants of arrest while the others can be arrested under the Rules of Court on arrest without warrant. Mendoza said he had met President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who approved the crackdown plan.

The impending arrests in the capital follow a similar operation in conflict-wrought Basilan and Sulu against the Islamic separatist Abu Sayyaf which is still holding more than a dozen hostages seized in May at a resort in western Palawan and in several Basilan towns.

Various groups in the south, including the Moro National Liberation Front, have assailed the arrests in Basilan which the group claims were in violation of human rights of the predominantly-Muslim residents.

Lawyer Randolph Parcasio of the MNLF said they have documented several incidents of abuse by the military to Sulu and Basilan residents and threatened to bring this to the attention of the Organisation of Islamic Countries.

Parcasio said the series of arrests would only encourage residents of the areas included in the crackdown to "resort to other forms of redressing their grievances". So far, a total of 19 persons have filed separate complaints before the Commission on Human Rights in connection with the ongoing military and police crackdown on suspected members and sympathisers of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group.

The complaints against the military and police range from inflicting physical injury, issuing threats and performing illegal arrests and detentions.

Despite the complaints however, military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan announced plans to expand the coverage of the crackdown in the south. Adan said a possible expansion of the crackdown might include Davao City, General Santos City, Cotabato City and key cities in the southern main island of Mindanao.

But in Manila, militant groups, particularly those identified with the left, have suspicions that the crackdown on criminals may be a cloak for a massive arrest on groups perceived to be anti-government. Mendoza had said the PNP would implement a crackdown similar to the dragnet operations the military conducted in Basilan island against Abu Sayyaf extremists.