About 20,000 residents, most of them Muslims, have expressed anger over the detention of militants in a camp near their residential area in Metro Manila's Taguig, Rizal.

The government has made the town's Camp New Idea a "dumping ground for terrorists", said Rizal Mayor Sigfrid Tinga, adding that residents have formed an association to step up their protest rallies against the national government.

"We lament the fact that the municipal government was never consulted on these matters despite the security risks that they pose," Tinga said in a statement that was sent to media agencies.

Tinga has asked Benjamin Abalos, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, to keep the national government from "dumping" militants in Taguig.

"The transfer of these people has negatively affected us," Hadja Fatima Kiram, president of the Maharlika Village Homeowners Association, said in a statement. "Most Muslims are religious and professionals, but sad to say, we have always been prejudged."

Six members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who remained loyal to ousted MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari were detained at the police headquarters, following their repatriation from Malaysia last Monday.

Bakil Annay Harun, Johan Sawadjaan San Sanzibar, Akil Abduraham Abdur, Uddin Esguerra Ishmael, Gamar Bin Abdul Razak, and Omar bin Abdullah - were sent straight to Camp New Idea upon their arrival at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Monday.

Last year, Taguig residents protested against the transfer of Hector Janjalani, brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Khadafy Janjalani, to the camp. Janjalani was supposed to be tried in Zamboanga City.

Seventy-seven more Abu Sayyaf militants, including Nadzmie "Commander Global" Saabdulla, were sent to the camp last year.

Misuari, his spiritual adviser, and the six followers escaped to Sabah's Borneo where they were arrested for illegal entry on November 24.

The Philippine authorities said Misuari and his followers led the armed attacks of 600 MNLF members at the Army headquarters in Jolo, Sulu on November 19. It resulted in the death of 113 people.

They were also accused of leading the armed attacks at the Air Force headquarters and the brief hostage taking of 118 villagers in Zamboanga City on November 27.

Misuari and his spiritual adviser Abu Hamis Osman were detained at a police training headquarters, in southern Philippines' Santa Rosa, Laguna, following their deportation from Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Sources said residents near Misuari's detention centre might also create an association to protest against the presence of a high-risk prisoner in their area.

The fears of possible violence in Santa Rosa, Laguna, due to Misuari's detention are understandable, but security in the area is under control, said Jesus Dureza, the Presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs.

"This is a normal reaction from the residents, but we would like to assure them that adequate measures by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to maintain order are in place," he added.

Dureza told the residents that Misuari's followers in Mindanao, southern Philippines and in Metro Manila gave their word of honour that they would respect due process and not resort to untoward acts that would disrupt peace.

Philippine National Police Chief Leandro Mendoza also denied reports that forces loyal to Misuari had arrived in Manila for terroristic attacks.

The government has given orders that press people should not be allowed to interview and take photos or video clips of Misuari in detention.