Alleged kidnap leader Hector Janjalani maintained his innocence to 11 counts of kidnapping in Zamboanga, saying his surname was used as evidence against him.

Hector Janjalani is the older brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani who led the hostage-taking of 20 victims, including three Americans, from a high-end resort in Palawan, southwest Philippines on May 27.

The group abducted four more people in Lamitan, Basilan on June 2, and 15 others in Lantawan, Basilan on June 11. They are now holding 21 hostages in their mountain lair in Basilan. Regional trial court judge Jesus Carbon postponed the arraignment for August 22 because only Janjalani and 16 others, out of 44 respondents, were represented by counsel.

Carbon ordered Janjalani to remain at Zamboanga City Reformatory Centre pending arraignment on August 22. Several local officials led by Zamboanga Mayor Clara Lobregat opposed the judge's move.

Janjalani presented four petitions to the court, to be informed of the cases filed against him; to face his accusers; to choose his own counsel; and to stay in Zamboanga City so that he could receive visitors and be close with his family and relatives.

Janjalani, who was allowed 15 minutes to talk to the media, denied being an Abu Sayyaf leader, saying he lived an ordinary life as a baker in Basilan. Janjalani has been accused of leading the kidnap of several students, teachers, and Catholic priests in Basilan in March 2000. He is accused of kidnap-for-ransom, the illegal possession of firearms and drug dealing and possession.

Denying his participation, he said he was in Zamboanga City to accompany his pregnant wife when the kidnapping took place. He said he has been trying to support his wife and two sons, but the government made ways to make his life miserable.

He accused the government of planting evidence against him and charging him with a number of crimes to which he is innocent. Janjalani faces another case in Manila for drug trafficking, said counsel Fred Jimenez, adding his client has been in detention for six months nothing has happened to this drugs case.

But Janjalani and another Abu Sayyaf leader Commander Habib were captured by military and police agents at a shopping mall in Manila last year, when they were trying to sell to international television networks video footage of American hostage Jeffrey Schilling who was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya in Jolo last August.