As the MILF leadership called on Laksaw Asnawi to make contact, it also questioned the circumstances of his arrest and eventual incarceration last November.

“Asnawi just took advantage of the situation to escape. The real targets of the rescue operation were the Abu Sayyaf (Group or ASG) prisoners,” MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu said on the MILF web site (luwaran.com) on Monday.

Kabalu was referring to the group of armed men who stormed the Basilan Provincial Jail last Sunday to free 31 inmates, 21 of whome were considered “high risk” by the government. He denied that the attackers were MILF members.

The MILF noted that Asnawi was one of several people facing multiple murder charges for the beheading of 10 Marine soldiers following an encounter in Al-Barka, Basilan in July 2007.

Kabalu said that with the internal investigation underway, Asnawi should “get in touch with the MILF leadership”.

The MILF said police arrested Asnawi last November 7 after he boarded a plane at the Zamboanga City International Airport. At that time, Asnawi and his wife were heading for Mecca to perform the Hajj, the rebel front said.

“This arrest of Brother Laksaw is a serious violation of the ceasefire accord between the government and MILF,” the MILF said without elaboration.

The group described Asnawi as the second highest ranking military official of the MILF in Basilan.

The government is offering R2 million for any information that could lead to the arrest of the 21 escapees who are mostly ASG members.

The vice governor of Basilan claimed on Monday that the armed jail raiders were members of the MILF.

The rebel group refuted the claim, saying that the public should be prudent in making statements that may unduly hamper the process of the just-reopened MILF peace talks with the government in Malaysia.