Philippines hunts militants planning to bomb Manila

MANILA, Oct 16 (Reuters) Philippine security forces are hunting two Islamic militants suspected of plotting attacks in the capital after a series of bombings in the south, the commander of military forces in Manila said today.

Three people were wounded yesterday when a powerful blast rocked a national police camp on the southwestern island of Jolo, hours after a bomb went off at a public market on nearby Mindanao island without causing any casualties.

The attacks came after seven people were killed and more than 30 wounded in explosions on Mindanao last week, raising fears that Manila would be the next target ahead of a religious holiday in the mainly Roman Catholic country on Nov 1.

''We're focusing on two personalities who have the capability to prepare bombs,'' Brigadier-General Ben Dolorfino told reporters after inspecting a US-trained counter-terrorism army unit at the main military base in Manila.

''Right now, we learned there was a plan to explode bombs in the capital, so we're now looking for the people that may likely carry out the attacks.'' He said two members of the Rajah Solaiman Islamic Movement, a group of converts from Catholicism, were hiding near Manila.

Trained by militants from Indonesia, they were preparing to strike at targets such as shopping malls, transport systems and other public areas, Dolorfino said.

Security officials say the Rajah Solaiman Islamic Movement has close ties with Abu Sayyaf, the most violent of four Muslim guerrilla groups in the southern Philippines, and with the Southeast Asian regional network Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

All three groups were blamed for the country's worst terrorist attack -- the 2004 bombing of a ferry near Manila that killed more than 100 people.

INDONESIAN CONNECTION Separately, police filed murder charges today against two Indonesian militants, Umar Patek and Dulmatin, who have been hiding with the Abu Sayyaf in the south since last year.

The Indonesians, suspects in the 2002 Bali bombings, were accused of plotting and funding last week's attacks on Mindanao.

About 6,000 soldiers have been searching for Dulmatin and Umar Patek on Jolo since August but with little success due to the island's rugged terrain and protection from residents with strong blood ties to local Muslim rebels.

Dolorfino said the military was working with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) -- the country's largest Muslim rebel group, which is in peace talks with the government -- to catch those behind the bombings on Mindanao.

''We have an agreement with the MILF to help each other arrest criminals and terrorists in the south,'' he said.

A senior intelligence official told Reuters about reports that Muslim militants were planning attacks in Manila between the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Oct 24 and Nov 1, the Roman Catholic holiday All Saints Day.

''There were a lot of concerns during that period because huge numbers of people would be taking trips outside Manila,'' said the intelligence officer.

''These people (militants) might take advantage of the situation because Manila would be vulnerable to an attack.'' REUTERS SSC BD1605