Arroyo vows to speed up legal process for Agus
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo vowed on Tuesday to speed up the legal process of Indonesian Agus Dwikarna who remains in police detention in Manila for allegedly carrying bomb-making components.
Arroyo made her promise during a meeting with Indonesian House of Representatives deputy speaker A.M. Fatwa and his fellow National Mandate Party (PAN) legislator Djoko Susilo on Tuesday night in Bulacan, 60 kilometers from the Philippines' capital of Manila, Antara reported.
The continued detention of Agus has raised eyebrows since two of his colleagues who traveled with him -- Tamsil Linrung and Abdul Jamal Balfas -- are now merely awaiting administrative procedures before their official release.
Fatwa and Djoko flew to Manila to oversee the pair's release as Tamsil is an active member of the National Mandate Party.
Spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, Triyogo Djatmiko, said on Wednesday that the Philippines' minister of justice, Hernando Perez, had also vowed to release Agus if there was little evidence against him.
"For Agus to be released without charges, he still has to undergo a second preliminary questioning ... The PNP (Philippine National Police) claims it has evidence concerning another issue against Agus," Triyogo said without elaborating further.
"The court there have yet to come to a decision on the possible temporary release of Agus ... it should come within one or two days. They could be home by Friday this week," Triyogo said.
On Tuesday, the court just heard arguments from Philippines prosecutors.
Fatwa on Wednesday said that President Arroyo would study Agus' dossiers.
Fatwa also said he conveyed his appreciation to Arroyo for her intervention in expediting Tamsil and Abdul Jamal's release.
According to existing Philippine regulations, the president can intervene and get suspects released without the case ever getting to court.
Fatwa added that Arroyo intends to send personal counselor Noberto Gonzales, who holds a rank equivalent to that of a minister, to Jakarta and South Sulawesi to meet with the public and leaders there.
Agus is a South Sulawesi native.
"Hernando has said that he will release Agus if Arroyo states that all investigations against him be stopped," Fatwa said.
In an earlier conversation with the director of the Philippines Security Council, Fatwa said that he was shown a closed folder marked "Secret" on Agus, which reportedly contained strong evidence about the activities of Agus, based on "incoming information" which was why Agus was arrested in the first place.
Tamsil himself has alleged that he and his colleagues were framed and arrested for political reasons as a result of orders from elements in Jakarta. He did not elaborate.
Earlier, National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar had said that Agus had reportedly been involved in a bombing in Makassar, South Sulawesi, last year, but that he had no idea why that case was related to Agus's arrest in the Philippines.
On the release of Tamsil and Abdul Jamal, Triyogo said that travel bans on both men had to be revoked by the Philippines immigration authorities first.
"Before the travel bans are revoked, even as it has already been decided that both would be set free of all charges by the president, they still can't leave the Philippines," Triyogo said.