Police send team to the Philipines

JAKARTA: Indonesian police have sent a team of investigators to the Philippines following the arrest of four Indonesians carrying explosives in the southern Philippines last week.

The team was assigned to look into possibilities the Indonesians were related to regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

"Philippines' authorities have yet to establish the connection between these men with JI and our team is trying to verify the links of these men to the organization," police spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang said Tuesday, as quoted by detik.com.

He said police would support the foreign ministry in ensuring the Indonesians were tried fairly and openly.

The alleged terrorists, identified as Yustinos Barahama, Alan Panggilawan, Mark Panggilawan and Charlito Panggilawan were arrested last week with a Filipino, carrying two-bags of explosives at a bus station in General Santos city.

Two Indonesians are currently serving jail terms in the Philippines for carrying explosives and involvement with the terrorist network.--JP.