Seventeen members of the extremist group Abu Sayyaf have been sentenced to life imprisonment for abducting both foreign and Filipino nationals in Malaysia nearly 25 years ago, the Department of Justice said on Monday, October 21.
In April 2000, armed members of the militant group linked to the Islamic State kidnapped 21 individuals from a resort on the Malaysian island of Sipadan.
Abu Sayaff held the hostages for several months in the jungles of Jolo in Sulu before being freed after ransom payments amounting to millions of dollars.
The hostages included citizens from the Philippines, Finland, France, Germany, Lebanon, Malaysia, and South Africa.
Two of those convicted – Hilarion Del Rosario Santos III and Redendo Cain Dellosa – are listed on a United Nations Security Council Sanctions List.
Santos and Dellosa were tagged by the council in 2008 for their “association” with al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, and for taking part in operations of IS-linked militant groups Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiah and the Rajah Solaiman Movement, the Department of Justice statement said.
The court acquitted and ordered the immediate release of the following accused: Manggona Malili, Abdulkahil Malla, Abdul Mubeen Sakandal, Ahiri Tada, and Radzmar Sangkula Jul.
Conversely, the case was dismissed against Jairon Ambot, Galib Andang (also known as Commander Robot), Nadzmi Saabtual, Alhamser Manatad Limbong, Abdurasid Banjeng Lim, Almusal Mawadi, Benhar Isni, Ibrahim Upao, Abraham Arany Jumdaini, Mariano Lomarda, Aldemar Saiyari, Yusof Saddai, and Mohammad Taib Amil due to their deaths.
These individuals were killed during a failed jailbreak at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City, in 2005, an event referred to as the Bicutan siege.
According to a 157-page ruling by the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153, the militants were found guilty of 21 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom. Each of them was sentenced to reclusion perpetua for every count.
Additionally, the militants were ordered to pay a total of P300,000 in exemplary and moral damages to each of the 21 victims, with an interest rate of six percent per annum from the date of final judgment until the amount is fully settled.
“In fine, based on the evidence presented, there is no question that accused and their cohorts were complicit in the joint purpose and design of the kidnapping of the hostages for the purpose of extorting ransom money from them or from the their respective families and government,” the trial court ruled.
The court emphasized the importance of the victims’ testimonies, particularly that of Roland Ullah, who confidently identified all the accused as individuals who held him captive for three years, from 2000 until his escape in 2003.
Additionally, the prosecution presented two former Abu Sayyaf members, Omar Pael and Julhasre Abtahi, as witnesses against the accused. While both admitted to being involved in the Sipadan incident as lookouts for the hostages, they denied taking part in the actual kidnapping of the 21 victims. (TCSP)
