‘No politics in arrest of Indonesians’

The arrest of three Indonesians in Manila on suspicion of terrorism was not politically-motivated as alleged by the suspects, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza said yesterday.

"Well, when they were arrested, we never thought of any politics in Indonesia. When they were arrested, it (was) by virtue of illegal possession of explosives," the PNP chief said.

Mendoza added that political developments in another country were not in the mind of the local police when they conducted the arrests of the three accused — Tamsil Linrung, Agus Dwirkana, Abdul Jamal Balfas – before their departure last March 13 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

"So, I do not think the Philippine police has something to do with political developments in another country," he said.

Mendoza was reacting to the statements of Linrung, who told the Koran Tempo earlier this week that the arrests were politically motivated and made at the behest of Indonesian officials.

Mendoza told reporters in a press conference at Camp Crame that he sees nothing wrong in the move of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Judge Henrick Gingoyon granting their defense lawyer’s motion to submit counter-affidavits.

"Actually, these representation was made by the lawyer of the three accused ... these have nothing to do with the evidence we have submitted to the court, I think what was granted was the opportunity to also submit their own counter-affidavit," the police official said.

Mendoza added that he conferred with the justice officials recently and was assured that there is a strong case against the three Indonesians.

Last Tuesday, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina debunked the alibi of the Dwikarna, Linrung and Balfas that police agents "planted" evidence on them.

The three posted P200,000 bail last week for the illegal possession of explosive components’ charges filed with the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office, but they remained locked up in jail for violation of immigration laws which are non-bailable.

Espina said it was natural for the arrested foreigners to issue such remarks because they are facing criminal charges.

"It was a normal remark for persons arrested for crimes of this nature. Certainly, the police will not plant evidence on them," Espina said.

The three foreigners were suspected to be linked with Jemaah Islamiya, a secret group believed to have links with Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network. Linrung told Koran Tempo Monday that the police planted several round containers the size of marbles containing white powder in his luggage when they opened it for a manual check following X-ray examination at the airport.

Linrung has repeatedly denied he carried the materials, adding he and his two companions were on a business trip to the Philippines with a Thai businessman he only identified as Doctor Prasan.