Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Diomedio Villanueva yesterday said he is willing to step down from his post if the political leadership asks him to do so over alleged mistakes that allowed Moro guerrillas to escape into the jungles of southern Basilan with their hostages.

"If they do not have the trust and confidence in me, I'm willing to resign," Villanueva said in a radio interview as the attention on the Basilan fiasco shifted from the alleged Abu Sayyaf collusion with the military, to supposed tactical and strategic lapses committed by Army commanders during the June 2 incident.

Villanueva's statement follow reports yesterday quoting findings by an investigating team led by military inspector general Reynaldo Rivera, as stating that his interference on battalion-level movements in Lamitan led to the escape of some 200 Abu Sayyaf militants who were holding out at a hospital and church with their hostages.

Rivera's report said that despite requests by the Army ground commander in Lamitan, Col. Daniel Lucero, for more reinforcements for his troops who were pinned down by the militants, Villanueva prevented an Army battalion in nearby Tuburan town from going to Lamitan.

"Observance of the proper chain of command in issuing orders was intentionally or unintentionally violated," said Rivera in a nine-page report, a copy of which was obtained by reporters.

But Villanueva denied issuing such an order. "I didn't issue that order. I don't talk to my battalion commander with regard to such decisions. I only talk to them if they have done a good job or not," he explained.

Villanueva said it was not him but then 1st Infantry Division commander Brigadier Gen. Romeo Dominguez who ordered troops to stay in Tuburan since they suspect the Lamitan clash was just a "diversion."

However President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday backed her armed forces chief despite mounting evidence that mistakes by the military helped Muslim militants holding U.S. and Filipino hostages to slip through an army siege in June.

"The president expressed full confidence in the leadership and competence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Chief of Staff, General Diomedio Villanueva," the presidential palace said in a statement.