A reporter from the television station Network 25 admitted that journalist Arlyn de la Cruz is not missing from her beat in Basilan and Jolo, although she has not shown up in public till now.

Lee Salvador, Net 25's defence reporter, said de la Cruz called up the station the other day and said she was "okay," but did not say where she was.

CBS Correspondent Gabby Tabunar denied reports that de la Cruz went missing after she was seen with a crew of CBS News, a foreign press company, whom she was to escort to the Abu Sayyaf camp in Basilan on January 21.

"She gave us footage which she had taken earlier. We did not go into the Abu Sayyaf camp. The same footage was shown on Net 25," Tabunar told Gulf News.

"I am sure she has done a vanishing act because she is working on something important," said Tabunar.

Other reports said forces loyal to Misuari allegedly kidnapped de la Cruz, adding she has been in the hands of the Misuari Renegade Group in Jolo, Sulu, a top intelligence official said.

"We have reports that she was forcibly taken by members of the group in Zamboanga City. She is now reportedly in Jolo," said the source, who declined to be named. The group has a grudge against her, the same source said.

"We also have information that many Muslims had ill-feelings about her dealings," the source said.

De la Cruz, who has close links with leaders of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf, has been hired by many foreign correspondents. "She is very close to Abu Sayyaf leader Khaddafy Janjalani," said a reporter.