Harsim Abdulajid, a member of the Abu Sayyaf, was arrested during a raid on his residence at the FTI Complex in Taguig, Metro Manila, on June 17, foiling what could be an attempted Abu Sayyaf plot to stage bombings in the capital Manila, according to a military report.

Abdulajid admitted that he was sent to Manila in May to locate Abubakar Janjalani and to set up safe houses for Abu Sayyaf members who are to stage bombing and terrorist activities in the metropolis. Prior to his arrival in Manila, Abdulajid said his work, under Abu Sayyaf leader Jairon Munib, was to monitor military and police movements in Basilan.

He admitted to being a member of the Abu Sayyaf urban intelligence unit under Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilo HapilonAbdulajid's warrant of arrest came from Judge Danilo Bucoy of the regional trial court in Basilan Province. For ten days, he was at the police's counter intelligence office for investigation.

Abdulajid also identified Hair Moktar from a military file photo, saying he is the same person known to the military as an explosives expert trained in Peshawar, Pakistan.

The military has succeeded in getting important information from Abdullah Yusop, also known as Mulu Abdullah and Boy Iran, an alleged Abu Sayyaf officer, who was arrested in Zamboanga last week, sources said. "(His arrest) signals the demise of the Abu Sayyaf. As in the arrest of the others, his will make a lot of difference," said Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Diomedio Villanueva.

"He is still undergoing tactical interrogation but I can tell you that he has mentioned certain names and certain activities in certain places, in connection with the Abu Sayyaf," said Villanueva.

The military is hopeful that the information will lead to breakthroughs in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf. "After Yusuf's arrest, we will neutralise more of them," Villanueva vowed.

Yusop joined the Abu Sayyaf in 1991 and has since been involved in its major undertakings, including the bombing of the Manila Domestic Airport in the mid-1990s. He allegedly provided Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafy Janjalani two 90 mm recoilless rifles for use in the battle against government forces in Punoh Mohadji in Basilan last year.

Alexander Young Our Basilan Correspondent adds: Four Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed and a similar number were wounded after they clashed with government soldiers in a remote village in southern Basilan island's capital town of Isabela on Tuesday evening, reports from the military said yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Glicerio Sua, commander of government forces in Basilan, said four soldiers were injured in the firefight, but added that none of the remaining 21 hostages were hurt as the elite Army Scout Rangers encountered the bandits in Kumalarang, Isabela City.

One of the Abu Sayyaf members who was seriously wounded was taken to a government hospital in the southern command.Brig. Gen. Sua identified the captured rebel as Abu Mustafa, who is believed to be the arms procurement officer of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Troops of the Philippine Army Scout Rangers continued to scour the area for the bandits and in an effort to secure the safe release of the hostages.The military's campaign against the Abu Sayyaf Group is a "low intensity conflict employed with unconventional tactics", said Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Diomedio Villanueva.

"Remember, we are in Basilan, an area with a wide expanse of rugged terrain and forests and we are tracking an elusive enemy that knows the ground like the back of their hand," Gen. Villanueva pointed out.

The military, however, has been criticised for failing to arrest the Abu Sayyaf leaders and rescue an estimated 21 hostages, who were separately abducted in Palawan, south-western Philippines, on May 27; in Lamitan, Basilan, on June 2; and in Lantawan, Basilan, on June 11. Sources said 13 of the released hostages have paid an estimated $100,000 to $200,000 (P 5 to 10m) ransom each.

Four of them were officially beheaded, excluding Guillermo Sobero whose beheading has been officially announced but whose body has not been recovered by the military.