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.