Two JI militants in RP: Military

Two JI militants in RP: Military

PHILIPPINES: Two top Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) militants are still hiding in the southern Philippines and continuing to fund local terrorist activities despite intensified military offensives, the armed forces chief said on Thursday.

Gen. Generoso Senga said government troops were continuing to track down Dulmatin and Umar Patek in the southern region of Mindanao, where they were believed to be hiding.

The two JI militants are wanted for their involvement in the 2002 bombings on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, which killed 202 people.

"The concentration of the effort is in the intelligence effort so that we can determine their whereabouts, their activities and conduct the appropriate operations," Senga said. "The latest report I got is they are still in Mindanao."

He added that the reports also indicated that Dulmatin and Patek were still able to solicit money from international contacts, and used these funds to finance local terrorists such as the notorious Abu Sayyaf rebel group.

The U.S. has offered a reward of up to US$10 million for the capture of Dulmatin and up to $1 million for Patek. --DPA