Manila  - Nine suspected terrorists were arrested in the southern Philippines in separate operations earlier in the week, a military report said Thursday.

The suspects, believed to be members of the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group, were arrested Monday and Tuesday just outside Cotabato City,
930 kilometres south of Manila.

The report did not give details about the identities of the suspects, who were undergoing tactical interrogation in a military camp in Cotabato.

It added that arresting teams recovered bomb-making materials from the suspects.

According to the military, dozens of JI operatives continue to train and operate in the strife-torn region of Mindanao.

The Philippine military alleged that JI militants have connived with al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels in several deadly terrorist attacks in Mindanao and nearby areas. (dpa)