The death of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Dulmatin, coupled with the neutralization of key Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) officers, will make it easier for the security forces to defeat the remaining militants in the country, police and military officials said Wednesday.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the reported killing of Dulmatin in a raid in Indonesia by local police was a big blow to the operational capability of not only the remaining ASG forces in Mindanao but also the remnants of the JI in Southeast Asia.

"We all know that he is a known JI leader, so it will certainly have a negative effect on the operation of the terrorists here," said Verzosa in an interview.

"Of course the threat is still there but if the report is true, then it is a big boost in our anti-terrorism campaign," he added.

While Philippine authorities have yet to receive a confirmation of Dulmatin's death, Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom), said they are more inclined to believing that it was indeed him since no less than the president of Indonesia made the announcement.

Dulmatin, a senior JI leader, fled to Mindanao and was coddled by the ASG following the Bali, Indonesia bombings in 2002 wherein more than 200 people died, mostly foreigners. He was reportedly the one who made the bomb and masterminded the attack.

Philippine security forces have intensified efforts to locate him and his aide Omar Patek but to no avail. There were reports that he was killed in a clash in Sulu last year, but the tissue sample subjected to DNA testing from the supposed cadaver revealed that it did not come from him.

Dolorfino said Dulmatin's reported death is a good news to the government's effort to stamp out terrorism in the country.

"In terms of effect, it's more on the leadership that he provides to the local terrorists. He is an acknowledged leader of JI, so the effect is more on the leadership," said Dolorfino.

Aside from leadership, Dolorfino said the ideological influence of Dulmatin and the training he gives to the ASG, especially in bomb-making, would certainly suffer.

The ASG is reeling from a leadership crisis with the death of its chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and other leaders over the years. Their most recent setbacks were the death of Albader Parad in Sulu clash and the arrest of the logistics officer of the Sulu-based ASG.

Moreover, police officials last week said Basilan-based ASG commander Furuji Indama was wounded in a raid by security forces in his lair in the island province.