The Family Of Indonesian Citizens In Terrorism The Bombing Of The Philippine Hotel Asks To Be Returned

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction Yusril Ihza Mahendra revealed that the families of Indonesian citizens (WNI) convicted of terrorism cases in the Philippines requested that they be returned to their homeland.

"An Indonesian citizen who has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Philippine government for the bombing of several hotels in Cotabato, South Philippines. That's a crime of terrorism. We are also studying that," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 18.

Yusril said the Indonesian citizen in question was named Taufiq. The government has not made any decisions at the request because it is still studying.

"Taufiq's name is if I'm not mistaken, his family asked the Indonesian government for help so that he would be sent back here. But later if it is submitted to the Philippine government, the one who proposed the government, not his family," said the Coordinating Minister.

He explained that his party had communicated with the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT). He has also received complete information regarding the condition of the prisoner concerned from the Indonesian Embassy in Manila.

"A few days ago I also received a request from his family, from his mother in Central Java because that person has been imprisoned for 25 years in the Philippines," he added.

The Indonesian citizen, continued Yusril, was arrested when he was about 20 years old for being involved in the bombing. The Philippine Supreme Court then sentenced him to life imprisonment.

"Already asking for clemency, [but] it was rejected and his family is now asking for him to be returned and we are studying the possibility," he said.

According to Yusril, Taufiq's request for repatriation needs to be discussed carefully, especially with BNPT because this involves a criminal act of terrorism. Moreover, in recent times, BNPT has succeeded in reducing terrorism crimes, including the disbandment of Jemaah Islamiyah.

"Things like this are also taken into consideration by the government whether terrorist prisoners who are detained abroad and are still Indonesian citizens will be returned or not, we have not made a decision," he said.