The military team looking for the three abducted members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have lost track of the kidnappers, a military official said Friday.

Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga, Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command chief, told ABS-CBN News Channel that members of the Task Force Comet have not sighted the kidnappers and ICRC members Andreas Notter, Eugenio Vagni, and Marie Jean Lacaba.

The victims were riding with three other Red Cross members when snatched by four to eight armed men, believed to members of the Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, in Patikul town, Sulu province around 11:30 a.m.

The bandits escaped with the three ICRC members on board a Red Cross vehicle, which was later recovered by pursuing military troops.

"So far there are still no developments. We are still trying to look [for them] and where they are keeping them," Allaga said, adding that the military and police intelligence units have yet to determine if the kidnappers are Abu Sayyaf members.

The military official, however, assured that the kidnappers are still in Sulu province, probably in the known lairs of the dreaded bandit group.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told radio dzMM that they received information that the kidnappers brought the ICRC members in Talipao town, also in Sulu.

Senator Richard Gordon, Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) chairman, said he is still awaiting word from the military and the police on the rescue operation's developments.

Gordon said the Red Cross is not in any way involved in the actual rescue operations, but said they are trying to gather information from other sources about the kidnapping.

"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.

The senator had also clarified on Thursday that the Red Cross will never negotiate or hand over ransom money to the kidnappers for the release of the ICRC members.

He reiterated his call to the kidnappers to immediately release the ICRC members unharmed. "We can only hope they are rescue unharmed."

Dismissed jail warden

Allaga, meanwhile, 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.”