MANILA – Seventeen leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were found guilty by a Taguig City court for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom of 21 individuals from Malaysia in 2000.
In a 157-page decision released by the Regional Trial Court Branch 153, Presiding Judge Mariam Bien said the accused ASG members were sentenced to suffer reclusion perpetua for each of the 21 counts of the crimes.
They are Alkaiser Baladji, Omar Galo, Muner Jumalla, Najer Ibrahimml, Jahid Susukan, Hilarion Santos, Ben Najar Abraham, Said Massud, Hajid Elhano, Jundam Jawad, Aljunib Hashim, Michael Pajiji, Alhadi Aylani, Dhad Suraidi, Julkipli Salih, Saltimar Sali, and Redendo Dellosa.
They were also ordered to pay the 21 victims P100,000 as civil indemnity; P100,000 as moral damages; and another P100,000 as exemplary damages — all with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of finality of the judgment until fully paid.
“Being detention prisoners they and each of them shall be credited with the full time during which they had undergone preventive imprisonment, pursuant to the provisions of Article 29 of the Revised Penal Code,” the decision read.
In April 2000, the Abu Sayyaf members kidnapped 21 people — of which 10 were Western tourists, nine were Malaysians, and two were Filipinos — from a dive resort in Sipadan, Malaysia and were brought to Sulu.
Most of the hostages were released in the following months after ransom money was paid to the kidnappers. The last hostage, Roland Ulla, who is a Filipino, was able to escape on June 6, 2003.
Department of Justice secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, said the conviction is a “reflection of the unwavering efforts of the DOJ in upholding the rule of law without fear or falter.”
Remulla also commended Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel Decena-Valdez for the efforts to convict the ASG members./PN
