Cotabato City, Philippines  - Philippine police said Thursday that they have arrested five suspected Muslim militants involved in bombings of business establishments and bus firms in the south.

The suspects were arrested Wednesday in a raid on their hideout in Tantangan town in South Cotabato province, 990 kilometres south of Manila.

Senior Superintendent Nilo Wong, a provincial police director, said the raid was conducted after months of surveillance on the suspects.

"They were positively identified by victims and witnesses," he said.

Wong said the militants were involved in bombings on business establishments and bus companies that did not meet their demands to pay "protection money."

He said authorities were also verifying information that the five suspects were involved in the failed kidnapping of three South Korean nationals in Santo Nino town last month. (dpa)