The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Monday that it has stepped up the pursuit operation for at least 30 members of the southeastern terrorist network of Jema'ah Islamiya (JI) in the southern islands of Mindanao.

The military told the ABS-CBN news channel that the JI members are accomplices of a Malaysian and two Indonesians who were arrested last week for being involved in the Valentine's series bombings in Metro Manila and the southern cities of Davao and General Santos.

On the other hand, the Department of National Defense said that about 30 to 40 JI members are believed to be in terrorist training camps in the jungles of Maguindanao.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. said that they are coordinating with neighboring

Asian countries to secure the waters around Southeast Asia in case that the terrorists slipped unnoticed through the Sulu sea.

In a separate report, fighting has intensified for the third straight week as government forces mounted new offensives against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) renegades in Jolo, Sulu.

On Sunday, the Armed Forces Southern Command denied that it had reached an informal truce with Muslim fighters loyal to jailed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari.

Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, Southcom chief, said that there was no truth to reports of a truce with MNLF breakaway faction.

He also said that even if a truce had been forged with the rebels, the military would continue its offensive against MNLF breakaway faction until President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo officially declared a cease-fire.

Earlier report said that the government would assess the situation in Sulu before declaring a cease-fire with MNLF to focus on fighting against Abu Sayyaf, whose members have been trained the JI.

Source: Xinhua