MANILA, Philippines--The death of the Philippines' most-wanted terror suspect leaves his al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group with no strong successor, security officials said Sunday.

The likely candidates include a one-armed commander hobbled by arthritis and another who has never traveled much beyond the mountains of two local islands.

Philippine military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon announced on Saturday that Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani had been killed in a clash with troops four months ago, citing results from DNA testing done by US authorities.

The announcement came four days after US-backed Philippine troops killed senior Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Sulaiman, Janjalani's sidekick and possible successor.

Their deaths delivered a major blow to the Abu Sayyaf because they acted as the main contacts to Indonesian militants and Middle Eastern financiers, who have helped provide badly needed funding and combat training, said Romeo Ricardo, the chief of the national police's Intelligence Group.

The two oversaw major terror plots in the past, he said.

Targeted by a massive US-backed offensive, more than 300 surviving Abu Sayyaf guerrillas would likely split into smaller groups to better evade troops and may take time to choose a permanent leader, Ricardo and the military say.

A lifeline could be top Indonesian terror suspects Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who are believed to be still on Jolo and could help the militants choose a new leader. They could continue to provide combat and bomb-making training and link the group with foreign financiers, the military said.

A list of Abu Sayyaf commanders that the military and police say may end up as Janjalani's successor, provided by a military official and a police official who both requested anonymity because they're not authorized to talk to the media:

RADULAN SAHIRON: A one-armed Muslim rebel commander in his 70s based in the forested mountains of Patikul on southern Jolo island. An ex-commander of the Moro National Liberation Front, a Muslim rebel group which signed a 1996 peace accord with the government, Sahiron is the Abu Sayyaf's most senior fighter.

However, he lacks Janjalani's extensive local and foreign contacts and has often been hoisted atop a horse in recent years because of his many illnesses, including arthritis and diabetes. Washington has offered a US$200,000 reward for his capture.

ISNILON HAPILON: Another former MNLF commander based in Lantawan on southern Basilan island. He is believed to have from 20-30 armed men. He was last monitored with Janjalani on Jolo last year. He gained notoriety by helping Janjalani carry out major attacks, including the kidnapping of three Americans and 17 mostly Filipino tourists from a resort island in 2001. One of the Americans was beheaded and another was killed during an army rescue.

Hapilon, in his 40s or 50s, is a rural-based fighter who has not ventured much beyond the mountains of Basilan and Jolo. He is believed to have crude bomb-making skills but is proficient with guns. Washington has offered a reward of up to US$5 million for his capture.

ABU PULA: A former MNLF rebel based in Jolo's mountainous Indanan with an estimated 50 to 70 armed followers. He is called by some as 'Dr. Abu' because of his purported ability to perform crude treatments on wounded guerrillas and ailing villagers.

Pula, believed to be in his 50s, is not known to have extensive local and foreign militant contacts but he reportedly harbored Dulmatin and Patek for several months in his mountain stronghold last year. The US has offered a reward of US$100,000 for his capture.