GMA sends adviser to Indonesia to clarify ‘wrongful arrest’

President Arroyo dispatched to Indonesia yesterday Presidential Adviser on Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales "to thresh out" and clarify with the Indonesian government the case of the two Indonesian nationals arrested but subsequently released by Philippine authorities for lack of evidence on their supposed links with international terrorist groups.

Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable said the President sent Gonzales to Indonesia after receiving reports that the two Indonesian nationals plan to sue the Philippine government for "wrongful arrest" and alleged planting of evidence against them.

Afable said the two Indonesians, Abdul Jamil Balfas and Tamsid Limrung, were earlier released from detention upon the official requests made to Mrs. Arroyo by no less than the "highest officials in both executive and legislative" branches of Indonesian government.

Upon arrival in Indonesia where they were accorded a "hero’s welcome," Limrung, a former member of influential Upper House Speaker Amien Rais’ National Mandate Party, announced his plans to sue the Philippine government.

Gonzales, Afable said, left for Jakarta "to inquire into these reports and thresh out the issues involved, if any."

The reports, he added, have to be clarified because Mrs. Arroyo ordered the release of the two Indonesians upon the official requests of no less than President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassam Wirayuda and the Indonesian Parliament represented by Deputy Speaker Andi Tafwa.

The two Indonesian nationals were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last March 13 and detained for almost a month on suspicion that they were members of an international terrorist group linked with the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden. Criminal cases filed against them have been dismissed for lack of evidence.

They flew back to Indonesia on Thursday, accompanied by Deputy Speaker Andy Tafwa who came to Manila to press for their immediate release.

Afable said the Indonesian intelligence service, called BIN, has also requested for the release of the third suspect, Agus Dwirkana.

But Dwirkana, he said, is still under investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) because the detonating devices said to belong to the Indonesian nationals were found in his luggage checked in at the NAIA.

Afable said Justice Secretary Hernando Perez recommended last week the release of the two Indonesians after government prosecutors handling the case found no evidence to support the charges against them.

"The President approved this (recommendation) immediately in recognition of our special relations with Indonesia and the need for closer goodwill between the two nations," Afable said.

"This release was requested by the highest executive and legislative officials of their country. It was a decision in the interest of diplomatic goodwill," he stressed.

He said there is no need for any formal apologies, if ever, for the arrest of the two Indonesians.