MANILA, Oct. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States government is offering up to 11 million US dollars in rewards for people who can provide information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of two Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members believed to be hiding in Mindanao.

    In a statement released by the US Embassy through the Philippine presidential palace on Friday, the US State Department said it authorized the release of 10 million US dollars for Dulmatin, believed to be one of the masterminds in the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia, and 1 million US dollars for Umar Patek, another JI member.

    "The 10 million dollar reward offered for Dulmatin is the second highest award offered under the Rewards For Justice Program, exceeded only by the 25 million US dollar award offered for Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," the US State Department said in a statement.

    The US authorities said Dulmatin, an electronics specialist with training in Al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan, is a senior figure in the JI terrorist organization, while Patek is believed to have served as the assistant to Dulmatin in the 2002 Bali bombings.

    "The United States is determined to bring these men to justice for their crimes," the statement said.

    The United States is encouraging any one with information on the whereabouts of Dulmatin or Patek to contact the US Embassy in Manila, any US military commander overseas or the anti-terror organ of Rewards for Justice staff via email.

    "Ordinary citizens of the Philippines or elsewhere may have information that can help bring these terrorists to justice and the Rewards for Justice Program offers citizens from the Philippines and around the world an opportunity to contribute to the battle against terrorism," said the statement.

    Since its inception in 1984, the US Rewards for Justice Program has paid more than 62 million US dollars to more than 40 persons who have provided credible information that has resulted in the capture or death of terrorists or prevented acts of terrorism.

    On Oct. 25, 2004, the US Embassy in Manila paid three residents in Basilan, southwest Philippines, 18.7 million US dollars each for providing information that enabled the Armed Forces of the Philippines to locate Hamsiraji Sali, also known as Jose Ramirez, a leader of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group that kidnapped and murdered US and Philippine citizens.

    Sali was killed in an ensuing fire fight with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

    The United States has also allotted 5 million US dollars reward each for the capture and successful prosecution of Amir Khadafi Abubakar Janjalani with aliases Abu Muktar, Khadafi Montanio and Jimar Manalad, Jainal Antel Sali Jr. alias Abu Solaiman, and Isnilon Totoni Hapilon with aliases Abu Musab, Abu Tuan and "The Deputy." Enditem