Filipinos in RI advised to take precautions
Filipinos in RI advised to take precautions
Agence France-Presse, Manila
Philippines officials on Friday advised Filipinos living in Indonesia to take precautions amid street protests outside Manila's diplomatic mission in Jakarta over the jailing of an Indonesian man in Manila.
There is "possible tension" arising from the conviction of Agus Dwikarna, foreign department spokesman Victoriano Lecaros told reporters.
He said the 4,000 Filipinos living in neighboring Indonesia are being advised to be on their guard amid the street protests, which began outside the mission on Thursday.
"The key word in a situation like this is caution," Lecaros said. "They could be subjected to indignities."
The official said about half the Filipinos there live in and around Jakarta, where most are employed in white-collar jobs.
"Most of the Filipinos in Indonesia are expatriates and are living in exclusive areas so it is more probable that they have enough security," he said.
Lecaros said the others "work as entertainers who live in the hotels where they are working."
Agus Dwikarna, described by Filipino police as a member of the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah, was sentenced to at least 10 years jail last week after a Philippines court found him guilty of possessing C-4 plastic explosives.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda has said Indonesia will not interfere in its neighbor's judicial system.
In Jakarta on Friday, about 100 militant Muslims protested outside the Philippine embassy to demand Manila free Dwikarna. On Thursday, a larger group of around 700 people rallied at the embassy.
The protesters, from the Indonesian Mujahedin Council and the Front for the Defenders of Islam, charged that the conviction of Dwikarna was part of a conspiracy to undermine Islam.
"We deem that the conviction ... is part of a global conspiracy against Islam," the Mujahedin Council said in a statement.
The council also urged Manila to acquit Dwikarna of all charges and send him back to Indonesia.
No incidents were reported.