The Philippine military said on Sunday that the Abu Sayyaf anti-government forces will be defeated before the May mid-term elections as the military is maintaining the momentum of the campaign against the rebels in Sulu, southern Philippines.

Lieutenant General Eugenio Cedo, Command chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao, said the number of troops running after the Abu Sayyaf in the island province of Sulu has increased to 10,000.

He told an alumni homecoming meeting of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio, 250 kilometers north of Manila that before the elections the military will get "high-value targets."

"We will maintain the momentum. Our troops are more than enough. They (Abu Sayyaf) are outnumbered 10 to one," he said.

The Philippines will hold its Senate and local elections in May, locally known as mid-term elections.

Cedo said the military chief of staff, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., has also given the pre-election deadline to defeat the Abu Sayyaf rebels.

Two key leaders of Abu Sayyaf were killed since the military started its campaign in Sulu in August last year.

Cedo said operations are focused on the remaining Abu Sayyaf leaders, including one-armed rebel leader named Radullan Sahiron and another rebel leader named Isnilon Hapilon, as well as Umar Patek and Dulmatin, two members of the Southeast Asia-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) who allegedly masterminded the 2002 Bali bombings.

The Abu Sayyaf and the JI have been blamed for the bombing of the super-ferry off Manila Bay on Feb. 27, 2004, which killed more than 200 people.

Source: Xinhua