The Abu Sayyaf has sent key people to bomb strategic areas in Metro Manila, the military said.

According to the military, this is a tactic meant to divert the attention of the military which is pursuing Abu Sayyaf leaders who have 20 hostages in their jungle lair in Basilan, southern Philippines.

"We have arrested three major Abu Sayyaf leaders who were tasked to launch diversified attacks in Zamboanga and Metro Manila," said a military source, adding that the end of the dreaded group is near.

Recently arrested Abu Sayyaf intelligence officer Harsim Abdulajid, also known as Harsim and Sim, revealed the alleged bombing attacks of the Abu Sayyaf Group, said Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Diomedio Villanueva.

Abdulajid admitted he was sent by a certain Jairon Mujib to bomb several key areas and installations in Metro Manila, Gen. Villanueva added. Abdulajid said he had received instructions from high Abu Sayyaf leaders, and that he was tasked with establishing safe houses for Abu Sayyaf members who would carry out the bombings in Metro Manila.

Abdulajid identified himself as a member of the Urban Intelligence Unit of the Abu Sayyaf under Basilan-based Commander Isnilon Hapilon, the military said. Hector Janjalani, detained in Manila on bombing charges in 1998, used to head Hapilon's unit in Basilan. He is the older brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafy Janjalani.

Hapilon led the raid of the Golden Harvest Farm in Lantawan town, Basilan, where hostages were taken as human shields on June 11. The Abu Sayyaf Group beheaded two of the hostages from the farm.

Before his assignment in Manila, Abdulajid was tasked to monitor the movement of the military and the police in Basilan. It is not a far-fetched plan for the Abu Sayyaf Group to infiltrate Metro Manila because they can easily mix with civilians in the city, said Basilan's provincial police director, Supt. Amadul Pangambayan.

"Manila is near, and the bandits don't need a passport to get there," Pangambayan said. "We are monitoring closely the movement of suspected Abu Sayyaf members in Basilan, to find out if some of them have gone to Metro Manila."

Muslim residents at the FTI complex in southern suburban Taguig, meanwhile, have complained about militarisation in their area, saying they are experiencing "selective military zoning without any basis".

Intelligence agents of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency arrested Abdulajid at the house of his relative at the FTI Complex on June 17. His arrest was disclosed in Manila after 11 days, on June 28. His arrest was based on a warrant issued by Judge Danilo Bucoy of the Basilan Regional Trial Court in southern Philippines. It was not disclosed what charges the Abu Sayyaf intelligence officer is facing.