Manila - The Philippine military has mobilized troops on a southern island for a possible rescue mission for three abducted staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a spokesman said Thursday.

Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres said government troops have cordoned off certain areas on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, where al-Qaeda-linked Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels could be holding the three ICRC hostages.

"We saw our forces deployed in certain areas and we sent a clear signal that we are ready to conduct operations should (a local) task force (overseeing the situation) decide to take the military operation," he said.

The ICRC staff - Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba - were seized on January 15 shortly after visiting the Sulu provincial jail on Jolo island.

The deployment of troops followed the military's rejection of demands by the Abu Sayyaf rebels for the armed forces to pull out to allow for negotiations.

"The fact that they are asking for the suspension of military operations or the withdrawal of army troops as one of their demands is a manifestation that they are feeling the pressure," Torres said.

Last week, Sulu Vice Governor Lady Anne Sahidula visited the three hostages and said all of the captives were in good health. She also brought them medicines and other personal items.

Sahidula said the rebels did not demand ransom, but instead told her that they plan to seek livelihood assistance in exchange for the ICRC staff.

Aside from the three ICRC staff, eight other people have been kidnapped by different groups of Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo and the nearby island of Basilan.

The Abu Sayyaf group has been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attacks and high-profile kidnappings in the Philippines. (dpa)