Twelve members of the Abu Sayyaf group surrendered to Sulu Provincial Chief Candido Casimiro in Jolo on Friday night, a senior official said in a belated report. But this has not resulted in the arrest of major Abu Sayyaf leaders such as Ghalib Andang and his cousin Mujib Susukan, who are based in Jolo and were responsible for the kidnapping of more than 40 mostly foreign hostages in Malaysia and Jolo between April and August last year.

More Abu Sayyaf members were reported arrested in Jolo. But the military campaign against them was supposed to have centred in Basilan where another Abu Sayyaf group has been holding 21 remaining hostages from abductions in Palawan last May, and in Basilan, Mindanao from June 2 to 11.

"The hunt for Abu Sayyaf members in Basilan has been forgotten with reports of more Abu Sayyaf members surrendering in Jolo, a place where there has been no recent kidnapping," said a local official. "Right now, the objective of the military, to rescue 21 hostages and arrest their abductors, like Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya and Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani, has not yet been realised," said the same official.

Lt. General Gregorio Camiling, head of military forces in the southern Philippines, confirmed the surrender of the Abu Sayyaf members and supporters in Jolo, but added that 10 more were planning to surrender in Basilan. Camiling confirmed that 12 bandits had surrendered in Jolo the previous day.

The surrendered Abu Sayyaf members said their leader in Jolo had stopped giving them supplies. Last week, the military intensified its crackdown on the supporters of the extremist group in Jolo and Basilan.

About 100 suspected Abu Sayyaf members and supporters have been arrested in Zamboanga, Jolo and Basilan. But only 34 of them were charged with criminal offences. The troops are searching for the main Abu Sayyaf band which is holding the 21 hostages in forested areas of Basilan, just a 30-minute boat ride from Zamboanga, said Camiling.

"They are hiding constantly, moving from one place to another," Camiling said, adding that the rough terrain had slowed down his troops. The military and the group holding the hostages clashed on July 18, but the Abu Sayyaf members managed to get away, said Camiling.

Our Manila Bureau Chief adds: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cleared the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman, Nur Misuari, also Governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) of protecting and selling firearms to the Abu Sayyaf group.

"Misuari has no liability. His name was not mentioned in the warrant of arrest. His caretaker is the one who will be investigated. He is accused of gunrunning. There was evidence taken from him," said Arroyo.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Joey Lina said: "It was coincidental that the operation was conducted at the house of the ARMM governor." The search was "legitimate since it was covered by a warrant issued by Judge Jesus Carbon," said Lina. Misuari allegedly threatened to resume the separatist war of the MNLF if the persecution against him continued in the southern Philippines.