MANILA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine military said on Tuesday that latest intelligence reports have warned of "extreme-severe terror alert" in Central Mindanao and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, prompting the military to order its troops in the regions to stay vigilant.

    In a press briefing, Armed Forces of the Philippines public information office chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said the terrorism alert was triggered by a bombing attack on a bus terminal in Cotabato in Mindanao last month, in which at least five people were killed.

    The United States Embassy in Manila Monday also renewed its travel advisory against Mindanao, saying terrorists may be again planning to bomb bus terminals and public markets in two towns that have been targeted in the past in North Cotabato, which is 950 kms south of Manila.

    Bacarro refused to answer questions on whether the military intelligence agents have received independent information about future bombing attacks.

    The two regions where terror alert has been raised are believed to be hiding places for terrorist group Abu Sayyaf and its ally, the Southeast Asia-based terror group Jemaah Islamiyan.

    Bacarro also said the military understand United States in issuing the travel advisory.

    "We cannot prevent a country from making such an advisory because it is the responsibility of this country to protect the interest of its citizens."