17 Abus get life terms for 2000 Sipadan kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines — A Taguig court has convicted 17 members of the Abu Sayyaf group over the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of 19 foreigners and two Filipinos in 2000.

In a 157-page decision promulgated on Oct. 16, the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 153 found 17 Abu Sayyaf members guilty of 21 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom, and sentenced each of them to life in prison for each count.

They were also ordered to pay their victims P300,000 in moral, civil and exemplary damages.

The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped the 21 at gunpoint from a diving resort on Sidapan Island in Malaysia in April 2000.

The victims were taken by boat to Talipao, Sulu and held captive in Jolo, Sulu while the bandits demanded ransom from the hostages’ families and their governments.

The hostages were released over several months after ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

Among the 17 convicted are high-profile individuals listed in the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions list, including Hilarion del Rosario Santos, also known as Ahmed Islam Santos, and Redendo Cain Dellosa.

Santos is the founder and leader of the Rajah Solaiman Movement while Dellosa is also a leader of the RSM.

The UN Security Council tagged them both in 2008 for their association with al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban and for participating in the financing, planning, preparing or perpetrating acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of or in support of and recruiting for the Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah and the RSM.

Also convicted were Alkaiser Baladji, Omar Galo, Muner Jumalla, Najer Ibrahim, Jahid Susukan, Ben Mahar Abraham, Said Massud, Hajid Elhano, Jundam Jawad, Akjunib Hashim, Michael Pajiji, Alhadi Aylani, Dhad Suraidi, Julkipli Salih and Saltimar Sali.

Meanwhile, the RTC found five other accused, namely Manggona Malili, Abdulkahil Malla, Abdul Mubeen Sakandal, Ahiri Tada and Radzmar Sangkula Jul not guilty of the charges and ordered their immediate release from detention.

The court also dismissed the charges by reason of death against top Abu Sayyaf leaders Galib Andang also known as Commander Robot, Nadjmi Sabdulla aka