January 16, 2026 | 11:30 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is exploring the possibility of repatriating an Indonesian citizen serving a life sentence in the Philippines for terrorism, Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Penitentiary Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra confirmed.
The discussion took place during a meeting with the Philippines Ambassador to Indonesia, Christopher B. Montero, in Jakarta.
“We specifically discussed the potential transfer of prisoner Taufiq Rifqi, who is currently serving a life sentence in the Philippines,” Yusril said in a statement on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
Rifqi was arrested on October 2, 2003, in Cotabato City, Southern Philippines, in connection with a hotel bombing. Detained at age 20, he has now served 22 years of his sentence.
Yusril stressed that any repatriation would not reduce or eliminate the punishment but would allow rehabilitation to take place in Indonesia under a legal cooperation framework.
“This process remains fully compliant with the laws of both countries,” he added. Yusril also noted that Indonesia continues to protect its citizens facing legal issues abroad through diplomatic and consular channels, without interfering in the legal processes of friendly nations.
The repatriation request was initiated by Rifqi’s family, who asked the Indonesian government for assistance. In response, Yusril previously instructed the National Agency for Combating Terrorism (BNPT) to review the case and coordinated with the Indonesian Ambassador in Manila.
Precedent: Mary Jane Veloso
The prisoner transfer mechanism was previously used for Mary Jane Veloso, a drug convict repatriated from Indonesia to the Philippines.
The transfer followed an agreement signed by Yusril and the Philippine Deputy Minister of Justice Raul T. Vasquez in Jakarta on December 6, 2024. The move was credited to strong diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Yusril also revealed in March 2025 that Indonesia is drafting a law to formalize the repatriation of convicts. Currently, transfers rely on bilateral relations and humanitarian principles rather than a specific legal framework.
“The draft law on the transfer of prisoners is still in preparation,” Yusril said at the National Seminar on the Repatriation of Convicts on March 8, 2025, as reported by Antara.
Hendrik Yaputra, Dani Aswara, and Ervana Trikarinaputri also contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: Indonesia Admits Communication Hurdles With Citizens in Iran Amid Crisis
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