REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG -- Two of Indonesian citizens found in Marawi, the Philippines, held passports as well as permits for tourism and minor hajj pilgrimage, the immigration office in Tasikmslaya, West Java, said.

The office's head of information and communication, Idha Ismawati, told newsmen here on Monday the two who received passports from the office were identified as Ahmad Saran and Wawan Sadira.

The siblings received the passports on different times with Ahmad obtaining the passport on April 1, 2015 and Wawan on May 22, 2015.

"With regard to Ahmad, he stated, when we questioned him, that he needed the passport for minor hajj pilgrimage while Wawan said he wanted it for tourism purpose," she said.

She said initially they applied for the passports for going to Malaysia and not the Philippines.

She said that coordination has been made with the police and security agencies concerned with regard to confirming the truth of the issuance of the passports.

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"The police have come to confirn the issuance of the passports," Idha said.

She said the two had met all the tequirements needed to be able to obtain the passports.

"It is assured they have met all the requirements for the departures," she said.

Foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir has said that 10 Indonesian citizens are at present in Marawi, the Philippines. 

The Tabligh members from Bandung, West Java, and Jakarta are conducting "khuruj" (leaving homes to carry out religious duties and propagation in mosques for 40 days).

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