ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Authorities intensified on Sunday pursuit operations against armed bandits who attacked the village of Tubigan in Maluso town in Basilan province Saturday dawn.

The attack killed at least 11 civilians including a 1-year-old, and critically injured 10 others.

Officials of Task Force Trillium said in a press conference in Zamboanga City that operations are continuing to capture the group of Dick Alao who allegedly led the attack. The task force was created to address the terrorism problem in Basilan and is composed of elements from the military, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the provincial government of Basilan,

Alao reportedly sought the help of bandits under the command of Puruji Indama, a known sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan.

“We can not discount that possibility, although Puruji was not seen during the attack. There could be a possibility of connivance between his group since Alao was able to muster a large group of armed men to materialize his deeds,” Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, chief of Task Force Trillium and Naval Forces Western Mindanao Combined chief said.

The police in Basilan also disclosed that Alao had been a resident of the village. He was a former supporter of Tubigan village chief Aurello Laping, whose relatives were those who were killed and injured during the attack.

Senior Superintendent Tony Mendoza, Basilan police director, said that Alao blames a relative of Laping for killing his brother.

“This was the cause of a retaliation. He personally led the bandits and carefully selecting the houses of Laping’s relatives in order to launch his revenge,” he said. The allegation against Laping's relative, however, remains to be proven.

Laping, in an interview with ABS-CBN Zamboanga, confirmed that Alao also had a grudge against him for not allowing the recruitment for members of the Abu Sayyaf Group members in the village.

Pama, meanwhile, said that the civilian volunteers who were assigned in the area were barely able to fight back the attack Saturday dawn because of the current firearms ban imposed during the 2010 elections period. The firearms of the civilian volunteers have earlier been deposited to the local government at the start of the implementation of the poll gun ban.

Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar, meanwhile, went to Zamboanga City Saturday afternoon to visit the critically-injured children.

One of those in critical condition she visited was is Jabrian Laping, a 9-year-old boy who suffered second-degree burns all over his body. He remained unconscious as of posting.

Six other critically-injured civilians were brought to Zamboanga City for medical treatment.

Dr. Jojo Sinolinding, regional director for Department of Health in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said he has ordered all health officials to perform the necessary actions to save the lives of civilians who fell victims in the Maluso attack.