I tried searching forums for people having similar problems but couldn't find anything.
I have compiled PHP 5.0.1 from source on a Debian Sarge and it's running fine, though when I try to compile free DBG I run into a lot of warnings which in the end leaves me with a sad face :/
Sorry if I haven't provided you with enough info, I'll surely do if you tell me what would help.

here are the warnings that I get

try to run
phpize=<pathtophpize/phpize> ./deferphpize

also check if the requirements (vresion numbers in particular) to the following system components are met:
autoconf, automake, libtool, m4.

from the logs you sent, it's clear that config.sub was not created... What I can say is that DBG is not involved in this process, definitely.

thank you for helping. I've been trying to get help in freenode#php, google groups#alt-php some mailing lists... no one seems to know what's wrong :/

I understand you might not be very much willing to help me further on as it's not DBG's fault here... but still if you would here is version info below. I am not really a linux guru. I'll at the same time try to get help at php.net#php mailing list.

that command didn't help as phpize is anyways located where it's expected to be in /usr/local/bin

autoconf (GNU Autoconf) 2.59
automake (GNU automake) 1.8.3
ltmain.sh (GNU libtool) 1.5.6
GNU m4 1.4.1

as far as I know 2.59 won't work. Try 2.13.

Thank you for your help ddmitrie. I solved that by recompiling/installing automake and libtools, found this solution in php mailing list archives.

Sad that DBG can't live in peace with turck mmcache or vice versa.

Anyways that is still alot better than it used to be

Thanks again!