AFP

MANILA PHILIPPINE police said on Tuesday they were hunting Islamic militants who may still be planning to attack the nation’s capital, a day after a massive Catholic procession went ahead without incident.

President Benigno Aquino had warned that militants were planning to bomb Monday’s spectacular annual festival, when an estimated eight million pilgrims converged on Manila in a bid to touch a centuries-old icon of Jesus Christ.

The feared attack in Asia’s Catholic outpost did not take place after heavy security was imposed in the city, but national police chief Nicanor Bartolome said on Tuesday that there was still a threat.

“Metro Manila remains on full alert,” Bartolome told reporters, adding between six and nine suspects were being tracked.

“We are conducting surveillance on certain houses,” he said, without giving further details.

National police spokesman Agrimero Cruz also said safety measures put in place for the procession would remain on Manila’s mass public transport services, as well as its airports and the city’s port.

“We apologise to the public over the measures that are in place to protect the majority.

These are being undertaken with public safety and security in mind,” Cruz told reporters.

“We can’t say how long these will last".