The military has mobilised troops and war material targeting the jungle lairs of the Abu Sayyaf group in Jolo and Basilan islands in southern Philippines, to stop them from beheading American hostage Jeffrey Schilling today , a senior military official said.

Attack helicopters left a Philippine Air Force (PAF) base in Zamboanga headed for nearby Jolo and Basilan. A C-130 cargo plane from Manila, used to ferry troops, also landed at Zamboanga's air base to reinforce military forces in Sulu and Basilan, two of the three lairs of the separatist extremist group.

"Military operations have started in Sulu and in Basilan provinces. This is a low-intensity war. This is guerrilla warfare and government forces are now pursuing the terrorists. The order is to eliminate them, to neutralise them," stated Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Diomedio Villanueva.

The group's spokesman, Abu Sabaya, threatened to behead Schilling in time for the 54th birthday of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Top military officials met to draw up a plan on how to rescue Schilling, believed to be held by rebels in their stronghold either in Jolo or in Basilan.

"Military forces are now searching for Sabaya and his group of animals and this offensive against the Abu Sayyaf will be a no-let up operation," said military official Col Fredesvindo Covarrubias.

The president's order was "take no prisoners and annihilate the Abu Sayyaf". There were no further details on the troop movement. Gen Villanueva did not say how many soldiers had been mobilised to pursue the Abu Sayyaf, estimated at 1,200 in Sulu and some 100 in Basilan province.

"We have sufficient forces in Sulu and Basilan but operational requirements would dictate whether more troops are needed in those areas," noted Southern Command spokesman, Col Danilo Servando.

Despite the attack, the government will not suspend transportation and communication to the island-province of Sulu, said Gen Villanueva. He added that the military operation will target the rebel's lair without affecting the civilians, unlike what the military did last September.

"I assure the public that civil liberty will be respected. The freedom of movement will not be curtailed and our soldiers will respect human rights. The military is here to protect the hapless civilians against the terrorists," he explained.