Released Indonesian tagged in Rizal Day 2000 bombings

One of three Indonesian men held at Ninoy Aquino International Airport for allegedly carrying explosives last Marchwas allegedly involved in the Rizal Day 2000 bombings, the Department of Justice said yesterday.

Justice Undersecretary Jose Calida told reporters they received a "reliable report" from "international contacts" that Agnus Dwirkana had something to do with the simultaneous bombings that killed 22 people, as well as the bombing of the Jakarta residence of the Philippine ambassador on Aug. 1 that same year.

"We received information that he was a participant in the planning of the LRT (Light Rail Transit) bombing and the bombing of the residence of Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leonides Caday. We are following up this lead," Calida said.

He said the information was provided by one of 13 men arrested by Singaporean police in December on suspicion that they belonged to a terrorist group and were planning to bomb US warships docked in the city-state, US companies and other American targets.

At least two people were killed, including Caday’s driver, when a car bomb went off outside Caday’s Jakarta residence as his limousine was about to enter the driveway.

Caday was seriously wounded and was pulled out of his wrecked car by passersby.

Indonesian and Philippine authorities suspected that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has been fighting for a separate Muslim state in Mindanao, carried out the bombing in retaliation for a massive military offensive that led to the fall of their bases.

Dwirkana was arrested along with two other Indonesians, Abdul Jamal Balfas and Tamsit Linrung, at the airport for allegedly carrying bomb-making materials in their luggage.

They denied the charge, claiming their arrest was politically motivated and was ordered by the Indonesian government.

However, Balfas and Limrung were ordered released in April by President Arroyo after a personal appeal by Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Dwirkana, however, continues to remain in custody in Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police.

Authorities said they are still investigating Dwirkana’s alleged links to Majlis Mujahidin Indonesia, a terrorist group allied with another terrorist group, Jemaah Islamiyah. Both groups allegedly are members of the al-Qaeda terrorist network of Saudi mastermind Osama bin Laden.

"We also learned that this MMI wants to build parts of Mindanao as their training base," Calida said. "We want to nail him down on the Rizal Day bombing, because that’s arson and murder and he can’t apply for bail." Dwirkana is currently facing charges of illegal possession of explosives, a bailable offense.

Twenty-two people were killed and dozens were wounded when several bombs went off across Metro Manila on Dec. 30, 2000, from late morning to early afternoon.

Aside from the LRT Blumentritt station in Manila, explosions ripped through Plaza Ferguson near the US Embassy in Manila, a warehouse at the international airport in Parañaque City, a passenger bus on EDSA in Quezon City’s Cubao district and a gas station in Makati City.