Filipino judge acquits 3 Indonesia terror suspects

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine judge has acquitted three Indonesian terror suspects and ordered their deportation, saying they were illegally arrested for carrying guns and explosives at a southern seaport nine years ago.

Judge Eleuterio Bathan said the three men were arrested by police without warrants in December 2004 after arriving by ferry in Zamboanga city. He said the explosives, grenade and pistol seized from them could not be used as evidence because they were found in an illegal search. A copy of the Monday ruling was seen Tuesday by The Associated Press.

The men had pleaded innocent in the long-running court case in 2008.

Bathan ordered the deportation of the Indonesians, who were suspected by police of being members of a regional terror group.

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