MANILA, Philippines, March 20 (UPI) -- The Philippine military is stepping up military operations in Mindanao against Islamist terrorists with links to al-Qaida.
The stepped up operations were ordered by Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon, chief of the military's Southern Command, and follows the capture last week of two prominent leaders of the Abu Sayyaf group.
"Civilians are supporting us and we're working closely with other law enforcement agencies in the hunt against Abu Sayyaf and their supporters," The Manila Times quoted him Monday.
Abu Sayyaf has not taken part in peace talks between Muslim separatists in the southern Philippines and the government.
Two prominent commanders of the group, Jaulkaram Hadjaini and Burham Sali, were captured separately last week. Hadjaini was taken on Jolo island, while Sali - also known as Commander Abu Sanny, was captured in Parang, Maguindanao.
Abu Sayyaf, founded by a veteran of the Afghan war against Soviet occupation, separated from the Moro National Liberation Front in 1991. It's been credited with a number of high-profile attacks in the southern Philippines featuring the kidnapping and killing of foreigners.
