President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said her government was fully prepared for every eventuality if Malaysia deports Nur Misuari, the former governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Misuari is accused of recent rebellions in the southern Philippines, five years after he forged a pro-autonomy peace settlement with the government in 1996.

"I already said, that we're ready to ask for Misuari back, we are already preparing his jail cell, his charges, and the mode of arresting him," said Arroyo.

Arroyo also said her government can prove that Misuari who was ousted as chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) by a 15-man MNLF Council last April, has protection from the hostage-taking Abu Sayyaf Group based in Jolo, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines.

"The Malaysian police said they don't have enough evidence (on Misuari's links to the Abu Sayyaf Group). It doesn't say they have cleared him. We checked with Malaysia last night, (and found out) that (the clearance) was at the level of the police, not yet at the level of the prime minister," said Arroyo.

It was a hint that she expected Malaysian Prime Minister Mohammad Mahathir to abide by her earlier request, that she would want Misuari to be in Malaysia until the newly elected local officials of the ARMM are settled in the southern Philippines.

"The government has more evidence of Nur's links to the Abu Sayyaf," said presidential spokes-man Rigoberto Tiglao, adding: "In our estimate, Misuari will be deported in two to three weeks."

At the same time, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen Diomedio Villanueva revealed that the Philippine Army headquarters at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, central Luzon and the detention facility in Sta Rosa, Laguna, southern Luzon where former president Estrada was earlier incarcerated, are being considered as Misuari's prison.

Arroyo's candidate, Parouk Hussin, won as ARMM governor, the post held by Misuari since he was elected in 1986. Hussin led the group that ousted Misuari from the MNLF in April this year.

Misuari had campaigned in vain for the postponement of the ARMM elections from November 26 this year to 2003.

The Philippine government had furnished the Malaysian police with evidence saying that Misuari's "special operations unit" was involved in the abduction of mostly foreign tourists from Sipadan last year, said Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin.

Citing data on Misuari, the report said his top aides provided speedboats to the Abu Sayyaf members who brought their hostages from Sipadan to Jolo.

The report added the MNLF camps served as havens for the Abu Sayyaf Group when they brought their hostages to Jolo.

Misuari and his men allegedly received a share of the ransom money, the report said, adding that Misuari's force had trained new Abu Sayyaf recruits in nearby Basilan, where recent hostages are being kept.

Malaysian Inspector General of Police Norian Mai earlier said Misuari was "only detained for entering the country without valid documents" on November 24.

He had escaped from Mindanao, following the failed attacks of his MNLF followers on an Army headquarters in Jolo that left 113 people dead last November 19, and on an Air Force headquarters and the hostage taking of 118 villagers in Zamboanga City on November 27.

"The question of whether or not he will be accepted does not arise as the Philippines has requested us to detain him. They have stated that they will accept him ... we are only waiting for their signal," said Norian, adding that Misuari would not be sent to a third country.

Malaysia gave Misuari and his group asylum when he waged a separatist war in Mindanao in the early 70s.