Philippine troops have stepped up the hunt for two suspected Bali bombers believed to be hiding with Al Qaeda-linked extremists on a southern island, the military said yesterday. A 92-man unit from the elite Army Scout Rangers would be sent to Jolo island to augment forces tracking Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) bomb experts Umar Patek and Dulmatin, military chief General Hermogenes Esperon said. Patek and Dulmatin, wanted for the October 2002 Bali bombings that left 202 people dead, are believed to be hiding out in Jolo's rugged jungle under the protection of Abu Sayyaf militants led by Khadaffy Janajalani, he said. The US government has offered a 10-million-dollar reward for the capture of Dulmatin and one million dollars for Patek. They have so far eluded a massive operation launched last month.
Five Marine and three army battalions, involving about 5,000 men, are involved in the hunt, which has led to deadly clashes in the past few weeks. US anti-terror forces are also on the ground helping with intelligence work, but not engaged in actual combat, officials said.