Speedy trial for Indonesians urged

Visiting Indonesian officials, led by Hamid Awaludin, called for the speedy trial of three Indonesians arrested for carrying explosives and suspected of being involved in terrorist activity, said a senior official.

"Their only request is that we hasten the hearing," said a Philippines foreign official. Tamsil Linrung, Agus Dwirkana and Abdul Jamal Baifas were arrested for alleged possession of bomb components, at Pasay City's Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 13.

Pasay City's court cancelled their arraignment on April 3, and instead ordered the prosecutor's office to hold another investigation, in response to a motion from the defence lawyer.

The Indonesians had posted bail for charges of illegal possession of firearms, but were transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Immigration for violation of immigration laws.

At the same time, the visiting Indonesian officials expressed satisfaction with the way the arrested Indonesians were being treated, said Santiago.

"We wanted to show that they are being treated well," said Santiago, in response to claims by the arrested men that they were being ill-treated. At the same time, police denied claims made by one of the Indonesians that investigating authorities planted the explosive components found in their luggage.

Santiago felt the police had sufficient evidence to nail the Indonesians, saying: "We're comfortable with the evidence we have."

Meanwhile, government lawyers claimed the three arrested Indonesians and Al Fathur Al Ghozi, who was arrested in Manila's Quiapo district on January 15, are all JI members with a mission to establish a pan-Islamic state in southeast Asian nations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines.

The Islamic state will be established in Mindanao, where several Muslim separatist groups have been engaged in an armed struggle, said the government lawyers.

The three Indonesians were also tasked with supporting the MILF in staging several terror attacks, said investigators.

Government lawyers said they based their conclusions on the testimony of a JI fighter in Afghanistan who reportedly told U.S. authorities that there was a plot to set up a fundamentalist state in southeast Asian nations.