CLARK, PAMPANGA (24 November) -- Despite intensified intelligence coordination among security agencies, there are still international terrorists in the country, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said.

Gonzales said that aside from Umar Patek and Dulmatin of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), there have been others like them that have reportedly been staying in the country.

"Meron pa talaga..hindi lang sila [There are others, not only them] ... those are the principals," Gonzales told a press conference here Wednesday.

Gonzales made the statement before a forum attended by local government and police officials on the status of internal security operations against communist insurgents.

Gonzales did not elaborate but assured his audience that these foreign terrorists were at a "manageable level."

"That's why the alert level in Mindanao has been downgraded," Gonzales added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Calderon admitted that local terror groups such as the Abu Sayyaf and the communist New People's Army have remained strong.

But despite continued threats, Calderon assured heads of state that would be attending the ASEAN summit in December of their security.

"I can assure the delegates that they will be secure when they come here, yung PNP preparations [the PNP preparations] from arrival to departure ay naiset-up na [has been set up]," said Calderon.