Elite troops are now scouring two lairs of the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu province as the military intensified rescue efforts for the three kidnapped members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a military official said Friday.

Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the elite Armed Forces' Joint Task Force Comet, said troops were scouring the jungles of Indanan and Patikul towns for the kidnappers and ICRC members Andreas Notter, Eugenio Vagni, and Marie Jean Lacaba.

"Our forces are now pursuing leads in the areas of Patikul and Indanan," Sabban told ABS-CBN News Channel.

The Sulu towns are known lairs of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Albader Parad, but Sabban said the military was not yet certain if the kidnappers are members of the bandit group.

He said police investigators were able to identify some of the ICRC members' kidnappers, but they are "not known Abu Sayyaf leaders."

Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, Western MIndanao Command chief, earlier said the military has not yet confirmed reports that Abu Sayyaf members snatched the ICRC members before noon Thursday.

A six-man team had just visited the Sulu Provincial Jail at the provincial capitol in Patikul when their Red Cross vehicle was stopped by several gunmen.

The kidnappers held the Red Cross members at gunpoint and commandeered their vehicle. Only Notter, Vagni and Lacaba were taken by the bandits and the other three volunteers were left behind.

Sabban said that aside from the Red Cross vehicle, Task Force Comet commandos recovered "a large amount of money" owned by the ICRC members.

He said the money was inside a bag found by the commandos in the vehicle. He said the bandits did not have time to inspect the bag's contents as they were in a hurry "because they know we're right behind them."

No words yet

Sabban said the kidnappers have not contacted the ICRC or the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) to demand for ransom.

He said local officials in Sulu have joined the military's efforts to rescue the Red Cross members from the bandits.

Senator Richard Gordon, PNCR chairman, on Thursday made it clear that the Red Cross is implementing a "no ransom policy."

Gordon insisted that the Red Cross does not negotiate with kidnappers. He, however, pleaded to the kidnappers to release the ICRC members unharmed.

"We are a humanitarian organization, we only help people," the senator said when asked if the Red Cross is in any way involved in the rescue efforts.

Dismissed jail warden

Allaga had said the military and the police are now looking for a former warden of the Sulu Provincial Jail, who may have involvement in the kidnapping.

He said witnesses saw the former warden, whom he did not identify, in the vicinity of the provincial jail during the kidnapping.

"The news about the jail guard, he's [actually] a dismissed jail warden. He was present, looking around when the kidnapping happened," the military official said.

The ICRC members were kidnapped after inspecting the inmates' conditions in the provincial jail. The incident happened near the provincial capitol.

He said the kidnapping could have been connected to the escape of 13 inmates last week. Police said the escaped inmates, including an Abu Sayyaf member, are "very notorious" and are involved in murder cases.

President Arroyo on Thursday ordered the military and the police to track down the kidnappers and at the same time safely rescue the ICRC members.

“The security forces, both AFP and PNP are in hot-pursuit operations to track down the criminal elements and ensure the safe return of the captives. Task Force Comet under Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban has been tasked to undertake appropriate action on the ground,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said.

He said Mrs. Arroyo told the military to "make sure the victims are rescued unharmed as their safety is always (of) utmost concern."

Dureza also reiterated the governments travel advice to areas where abductions have recently occurred. He said “all elements, whether locals or foreigners, who visit these areas to coordinate with government ground forces and civilian authorities so adequate measures are done on their security and safety.”