Filipino diver Roland Ullah was the Abu Sayyaf's contact person at a resort in Pulau Sipadan, from where 21 mostly foreign tourists were abducted two years ago, said Maj. Noel Detoyato.

"We have reports that Ullah has demanded his own ransom money from his own resort employer in Malaysia," Detoyato told reporters. Ullah was the resort's dive master.

The reports came from Jolo Army commander, Brig. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, in charge of the government offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in the largely Muslim province, about 950km south of Manila, said Maj. Detoyato.

All but Ullah had been freed by rebels on Jolo island after Malaysian and Libyan negotiators reportedly paid an estimated $ 27 million in exchange for the safe release of the hostages, the number of which ballooned to 40.

Some of them were kidnapped in Jolo, Sulu, from July to August, 2000.

Ullah had many chances to escape from the Abu Sayyaf but he opted to stay with the group which is headed by rebel leaders Galib Andang and Mujib Susukan, Maj. Detoyato said.

Nevertheless, Southern Command chief, Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, ordered the army to get Ullah and to bring him back to his family by all means, "whether through military operations or what", Maj. Detoyato explained.

It was not known if Ullah would be arrested, but authorities have not filed any charges against him. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding a kidnapped U.S. missionary couple, Martin and Gracia Burnham, on nearby Basilan island.

Ullah's wife and two children, aged one and three, are at the military base after they sought medical assistance last week. Ullah's children are suffering from pulmonary diseases, and his wife said they do not have money for medicines.