MANILA, April 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine military said on Monday that terrorist activities in Mindanao have reached the alarming level, and that "lack of resources" is preventing the military from dealing with the terrorists decisively.

    Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Angel Hondrado made the declaration a day after US embassy charge d'affaires Joseph Mussomeli raised the possibility of Mindanao becoming the next Afghanistan due to continued presence of terrorists.

    "We view the situation in Mindanao as alarming but not to the extent as what the charge d'affaires has been expounding. Alarming means the situation needs concern, which needs to be attended to,"Hondrado told a briefing in Camp Aguinaldo.

    Mussomeli said Mindanao is turning to be the new "Mecca for terrorism," citing the growing linkages between the local Abu Sayyaf and factions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with the Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

    "We would not say that (Mindanao) is haven. Terrorists exist inMindanao and terrorism exists in Mindanao. Now, as to the interpretation of haven or not, it's all up to different interpretations but the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) or the government does not deny the existence of terrorists or terrorism in Mindanao," said Hondrado.

    A captured JI operative in the country named Rohmat, alias Zaki, admitted that there are 33 more JI men operating in Mindanao. He said the JIs were meeting with the Abu Sayyaf and were encamped inMILF territories in the south.

    Rohmat was arrested by military intelligence operatives in Maguindanao on March 16. He was reportedly involved in the planning of the Feb. 14 bombings that left eight people dead and over a hundred others injured. Enditem