Former separatist leader-turned-politician Nur Misuari has reportedly forged an alliance with the extremist Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province's main Jolo island and is allegedly planning to carry out terror attacks to disrupt the gubernatorial elections in the autonomous region in Mindanao, an Army spokesman said yesterday.

Col. Danilo Servando, spokesman of the Southern Command based in Zamboanga City, said Misuari, incumbent governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) secretly met last week with Abu Sayyaf leaders Ghalib Andang, Mujib Susukan and Murphy Imbang, together with six other militant commanders in the remote village of Silangkan in Parang town.

"Misuari has forged an alliance with the Abu Sayyaf and would carry out bombing attacks to disrupt the elections next Monday, November 26, in the autonomous region," said Servando, quoting a report from Col. Romeo Tolentino, commander of the Army's 104th Infantry Brigade in Jolo.

He said Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu has ordered the military in Jolo and in other areas in the autonomous region to be on alert to thwart terror attacks by the Abu Sayyaf.

"Military forces are now in red alert to prevent any attacks by lawless groups. There is a strong public support to hold a clean and peaceful elections in the region and the military will ensure an honest conduct of elections," Servando said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said elections will take place on November 26 as scheduled despite opposition from Misuari and several of his allies in the national legislature.

Misuari, who is on his fourth year as ARMM governor, had also opposed last August's plebiscite which resulted in the inclusion of the province of Basilan into the four-province Muslim self-rule region.