MANILA, Philippines, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Philippine officials have been ordered to continue to investigate a foiled plot my Muslim extremists to bomb Manila.
The Philippine Star, in its Saturday edition, said the order to police and intelligence authorities came from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
"We will never put our guard down until terrorism is defeated, whether homegrown or spawned beyond our shores," she reported said.
Security forces on Thursday said they raided the hideout outside of Manila of Muslim terrorists, who authorities indicated were members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. One person was killed, three were captured and five escaped, reports said.
Explosives, firearms, ammunition and detonation devices were confiscated.
The suspects were said to have been planning to conduct an attack in the Metro Manila area.
The MILF, a separatist group in peace negotiations with the government, is active in the southern Philippines. It denied the suspects were linked to it and offered to help authorities track down the five fugitives.
