MANILA, Philippines – Months after it occurred, Philippine leaders have confirmed the killing of two people described as members of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), local media reported.

"Philippines authorities have successfully neutralised two foreign terrorists," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview on DZRB Radyo ng Bayan.

SunStar.com reported that in November, Philippines authorities had tracked down Ibnu Gholib Al-Jitli, also known as Ustadz Sanusi, in Marawi City, killing him in a November 2011 firefight. A native of Indonesia, he was allegedly involved in the 2005 beheading of three schoolgirls in Poso.

According to The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the second suspect, Noor Fikrie Kahar of Malaysia, was shot dead by Davao City police while attempting to detonate an improvised device in a city hotel on December 14th.

His wife remains in custody and is "under judicial process", Valte said.

"We can show that the government is really serious in the fight against terrorists and we're hoping that these two events could bring a strong message to individuals like them that the Philippines could not be safe haven for terrorists," she added.