Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has vowed to respond with force in dealing with the bandit group Abu Sayyaf as she raised the bounty for the capture of its members to P100 million ($2 million), after the group had abducted 20 people from a resort in the western island of Palawan.

Appearing on national television, Arroyo also said that she was offering a P5 million ($100,000) reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of Abu Sayyaf leaders and one million pesos ($20,000) to anyone who helped nab lower-ranking members of the group.

"To the bandits, listen carefully, I will finish what you started. Force will be met by force, arms will be met with arms. This is what your challenge to me calls. This is what I will give you in return," she said in her native language.

Arroyo also warned the Abu Sayyaf, "You can run but you won't get far," even as she reiterated the "no ransom policy of the government. "If you think you can get money out of this, you are wrong. Don't expect any ransom," the president said. Earlier, the interior and tourism departments had offered a P1 million bounty for information leading to the capture of the Abu Sayyaf members.

The bounty offer was made after Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Sabaya in a radio interview owned to the abduction of 20 people at Palawan's Dos Palmas resort in Honda Bay on Sunday. In the same address the president noted that she had ordered the military and the police to intensify their operations against the Abu Sayyaf.

"They have orders not to stop their operations until all the Abu Sayyaf are eliminated or have surrendered. In the meantime, I assure you that we will not give you a day of peace," she said.

She also said that she had instructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to provide additional security to the resorts and other tourist areas in the Philippine coastline.

Aside from the operations to finish off the Abu Sayyaf, she said that her government remains firm in its no negotiations, no ransom policy. "We will use the force of arms, prize money for their capture and good relationships with the people against the bandits," she said. She also called on the members of the Abu Sayyaf "to surrender the brains of your organisation."