RP post in Jakarta braces for attacks

Security was tightened over the weekend at the Phi-lippine Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia amid intelligence reports that followers of alleged terrorist Agus Dwikarna are planning to avenge his conviction in Manila on illegal possession of explosives.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal, head of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s anti-terrorism task force Sanglahi, said coordination has been made between the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta for the strengthening of security measures.

"We cannot afford another attack on a Philippine territory in Jakarta," Caringal said. He was referring to the August 2000 bomb explosion that damaged the home of Ambassador Leonides Caday.

Caday was seriously wounded in the attack.

Caringal said Dwikarna "is very influential in Jakarta and enjoys the support of many businessmen and several groups."

He added that Filipinos in the Indonesian capital may also be targeted by Dwikarna’s rabid supporters.

At the same time, Caringal noted that the Indonesian government has shown keen interest in the conviction of Dwikarna by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court that sent him to 10 to 17 years in jail for illegal possession of explosive materials.

Dwikarna was implicated in the spate of bombings that rocked Metro Manila on Dec. 30, 2000 as well as the attack on Caday’s residence in Jakarta.

Citing information received from the police in Singapore and Indonesia, the PNP said there was strong reason to believe that Dwikarna’s group, the Rabitatul Maujahidin (RM), was involved in both bomb attacks.

A break in the Philippine government’s case against Dwikarna came when another Indonesian, Faiz Bin Abu Bakar Bafana, who was among a number of suspected terrorists rounded up in a police crackdown in Singapore, admitted during tactical interrogation that Dwikarna and other members of the RM central committee were involved in both bomb attacks.

Another Indonesian terrorist, Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, was arrested earlier this year in General Santos City and convicted for illegal possession of about a ton of explosives.

"These operations were the results of President Arroyo’s no-nonsense campaign against terrorism, as well as the intensified cooperation (of our) counterparts abroad," Caringal said.

Dwikarna was also ordered by RTC Judge Henrick Gingoyon to pay a P50,000 fine, making the Indonesian the second suspected foreign terrorist to be convicted in the Philippines since Mrs. Arroyo threw her support for the US-led worldwide war on terrorism last year.

Police have also filed before the Department of Justice charges of illegal possession of explosives against another Indonesian and a Malaysian suspected of terrorism.

Justice Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee said Riduan "Hambali" Isamuddin, an Indonesian, and Bafana, a Singaporean-Malaysian, were members of Jemaah Islamiya, an Indonesian terrorist group belonging to the al-Qaeda network of fugitive Saudi mastermind Osama bin Laden.

They were implicated by Al-Ghozi who was sentenced in mid-April to 12 years in prison for illegal possession of over a ton of explosives stashed in a backyard in General Santos City.

Al-Ghozi received another 12-year prison sentence the same month for falsifying two Philippine passports, which, police said, was part of a terrorist scheme. He pleaded guilty to both charges.

"Hambali and Bafana were charged because of their roles in financing the explosives used in the (General Santos City) bombing," Teehankee told reporters. "Hopefully, if charges are filed in court, warrants for their arrest can be issued soon."

Fifteen people were killed on April 21 in a series of bomb explosions in General Santos City.

Officials said Al-Ghozi admitted "procuring" explosives along with "Muslim Filipino cohorts" but said he was acting "upon the orders and instructions of the foreign nationals," namely, Isamuddin and Bafana who, however, are at large.

"But we believe one of them is in Singapore," Teehankee said, hoping that police in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore would be able to track down the two and extradite them to Manila once arrest warrants are out.

On the other hand, Dwikarna was one of three suspected Indonesian terrorists held last March 13 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for allegedly carrying bomb-making materials in their luggage.

Charges against Dwikarna’s co-accused, Abdul Jamal Balfas and Hamsid Lin Rung, were dropped. — Christina Mendez