Philippines Army Says Bali Bombing Suspects Are Planning More Attacks

The Philippine military chief, General Generoso Senga, says two Islamic militants who organised the 2002 Bali bombings are in the southern Philippines and are soliciting funds for future attacks. The Indonesian men, Dulmatin and Umar Patek, are suspected members of the Jemaah Islamiyah extremist group.Umar Patek and DulmatinA reporter in Manila, Shirley Escalante, say the pair have fled to the southern Philippines from Indonesia and are on the run. General Senga says security forces have stepped up their efforts to track down and capture the men. Intelligence officials say Dulmatin and Umar Patek are being protected by the Philippine militant group, Abu Sayyaf. They say reports that the men have cut their ties with Jemaah Islamiyah could be a ploy to reduce efforts by Indonesian and Philippine authorities to go after them. The militants have reportedly communicated with Jemaah Islamiyah members on how they could continue their operations in the Philippines and Indonesia. The 2002 suicide bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali claimed the lives of 202 people.