Manila frees two Indonesians

Manila frees two Indonesians

Agencies, Manila

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday ordered
the release of two Indonesians held for suspected terrorism, but
another Indonesian, Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, only saw his 12 year
sentence increased by a court after pleading guilty to forgery.

Fathur was sentenced to jail terms of four to six years for
each of two cases of falsifying documents to obtain Philippine
passports.

Officials at the Zamboanga Regional Trial Court in the
southern Philippines said al-Ghozi could serve the two jail
sentences handed down for forgery simultaneously.

On Thursday, Fathur was sentenced to between 10 and 12 years
in jail for illegal possession of explosives.

Fathur was detained Jan. 15 while leaving for Thailand. His
arrest led authorities to the seizure of a ton of explosives they
believed was linked to a thwarted bomb plot in Singapore.

Philippine authorities have linked Fathur to the Jemaah
Islamiah group which in turn has been linked to the al-Qaeda
network allegedly responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the
United States.

Meanwhile in Manila, acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable
said President Arroyo agreed to release two of the three other
Indonesians also being detained for suspected terrorist activity
following a personal request by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"The charges against the two were dismissed by the secretary
of justice. The two will be released now to the Indonesian
authorities through the Indonesian ambassador," Afable said.

"And on the part of the president, she approved this
immediately in recognition of our special relations with
Indonesia and the need for closer goodwill between the two
nations."

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said they were handed
over to the Indonesian embassy in Manila, where they will have to
remain until the formalities of a court hearing next week
officially releases them.

The two Indonesians, Abdul Jamal Balfas and Tamsil Linrung,
who together with a third Indonesian, Agus Dwikarna, were
arrested at Manila airport last month for alleged possession of
bomb parts.

Philippine authorities had branded the three suspected
terrorists, but there had also been claims the case was
politically motivated.

Dwirkana, however, would continue to be held because
investigations into his case were not complete, Afable said.

Tamsil had said he saw Philippine police plant bomb-making
material and claims that he was being framed.