Police on Tuesday filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against an Abu Sayyaf sub-group leader and more than 20 of his men for the kidnapping of three plywood factory employees in Maluso, Basilan last week.

Charged were Abu Sayyaf leader Puriji Indama, Muhajid Nasirin, Amilhusin Insoh, Daniel Musa, Omras Musa, Moton Indama, Hud Limaya, Adam Mingkong, Muktar Abon, Ismael Sakkam and Nasser Butug.

The charges filed before the Basilan Provincial Prosecutor's Office were in connection to the kidnapping of Michael Tan, Oscar Dee alias Oscar Dee and Mark Singson.

Indama's group raided the Basilan Hi-Tech Woodcraft Inc. in Barangay Townsite, Maluso on November 10 and kidnapped the three employees.

The kidnapping took place after the beheading of Gabriel Canizares, principal of Kanague Elementary School in Patikul. His head was dumped by Abu Sayyaf bandits near a gasoline station in downtown Jolo last November 9.

Police said Indama's group could be keeping the 3 plywood plant employees somewhere between Sumisip and Tipo-Tipo towns in Basilan.

At least six teams from the police and the military were pursuing the bandits. -- Report from Noel Alamar, radio dzMM