The Moro Islamic Liberation Front yesterday confirmed that two of the suspects in the deadly Bali bombings three years ago are hiding in the southern Philippines and that MILF forces are now hunting them. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the group is closely coordinating with the government authorities in the hunt for Pitono, also known as Dulmatin, and Umar Patek, main suspects in the the twin bombings on the Indonesian resort island that killed more than 200 mostly foreign holiday-makers. "Our forces are hunting the two suspects who are believed hiding in the hinterlands of central Mindanao region," Kabalu told Arab News.The search was triggered by a recent government intelligence report that the duo have slipped into the southern Philippines and could be setting up bases in the region. Reports reaching the MILF leadership say the suspected members of the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network are with at least eight local extremists. "We have received reports from our commanders on the ground that Dulmatin and Patek have allied themselves with the Abu Sayyaf and we have passed this information to the government," Kabalu said.
It was not immediately known how and when the two terrorists entered the country, although Philippine military reports last year suggested that Dulmatin was killed in October an airstrike in Maguindanao, about 900 kilometers south of Manila. The strike came after spies tracked Dulmatin to a meeting with terrorists from the Abu Sayyaf group headed by Khadaffy Janjalani — who had evaded the military for five years — was also reported to have died along with 40 other followers. But the military failed to back up its reports with evidence.