17 Abu Sayyaf members in 2000 Sipadan kidnapping convicted

Seventeen leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf group who were responsible for the kidnapping of 21 individuals from Malaysia in 2000 were found guilty by a Taguig court for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom.

In a 157-page decision rendered by the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 153 dated October 16, 2024, presiding judge Mariam Bien said the following accused ASG members were sentenced to suffer reclusion perpetua for each of the 21 counts of the crimes they were found guilty of:

• Alkaiser Baladji,
• Omar Galo,
• Muner Jumalla,
• Najer Ibrahim,
• 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

“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.

The accused 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.

To recall, the Abu Sayyaf members in April 2000 kidnapped 21 people—of which 10 were Western tourists, 9 were Malaysians, and 2 were Filipinos—-from a dive resort in Sipadan, Malaysia.

The victims were brought to Sulu while the ASG extorted ransom money from the hostages’ family and from the government.

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.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Santos and Dellosa, two of those 17 convicted are high profile individuals listed in the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions list.

Meanwhile, ASG leaders Galib Andang a.k.a. “Commander Robot,” Nadjmi Sabdulla a.k.a. “Commander Global,” as well as other members were taken into custody and prosecuted shortly after the incident.

However, they were killed during an attempted jailbreak in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City in 2005.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said that the conviction is a “reflection of the unwavering efforts of the DOJ in upholding the rule of law without fear or falter.”

He also commended Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel Decena-Valdez for the efforts to convict the ASG members. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News