(UPDATED) The Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 153 has found 17 Abu Sayyaf leaders and members guilty for the April 23, 2000 kidnapping of foreign and Filipino tourists on Sipadan Island, Malaysia, according to a statement released by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In the decision of Judge Mariam Bien dated October 16, 2024, the accused were found guilty of 21 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom and were sentenced to suffer reclusion perpetua for each count. 

The DOJ said among those convicted are high profile individuals who are listed in the United Nations Security Council’s Sanctions List, namely: Hilarion Del Rosario Santos III a.k.a. Ahmed Islam Santos, a.k.a. Ahmed Santos and Redendo Cain Dellosa.

Santos is the founder and leader of the Rajah Solaiman Movement or RSM, while Dellosa is another RSM leader. 

Misuari: Malaysia to blame for Sipadan kidnappings

The DOJ noted that the UN Security Council tagged both in 2008 for their association with Al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban and for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of and recruiting for the Abu Sayyaf Group, Jemaah Islamiyah and the Rajah Solaiman Movement”. 

“However, the accused, including Santos and Dellosa, had to be charged for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom since the incident happened in 2000 when the country did not yet have a law on terrorism,” the DOJ said.

Aside from Santos and Dellosa, the others who were also convicted were Alkaiser Baladji, Omar Galo, Muner Jumalla, Najer Ibrahim, Jahid Susukan, Ben Najar Abraham, Said Massud, Hajid Elhano, Jundam Jawad, Aljunib Hashim, Michael Pajiji, Alhadi Aylani, Dhad Suraidi, Julkipli Salih and Saltimar Sali.

The court ordered the 17 to jointly and severally to pay the 21 victims P100,000 as civil indemnity, P100,000 as moral damages and P100,000 as exemplary damages with 6% per annum interest. 

Accused Manggona Malli, Abdulkahil Malla, Abdul Mubeen Sakandal, Ahiri Tadja and Radzmar Sangkula Jul meantime were found not guilty on the ground of reasonable doubt. 

The 2000 incident involved 10 Western tourists and 11 Asians.

They were snatched from the Malaysian island and were taken as hostages in Sulu where American Guillermo Sobero was beheaded and missionary Martin Burnham died in a military operation.

Other hostages were released over several months after ransom moneys were paid to the kidnappers, the DOJ noted. 

Timeline of the Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines 

Most of the top ASG leaders such as  Galib Andang a.k.a. Commander Robot, Nadjmi Sabdulla a.k.a. Commander Global and several other members died during an attempted jailbreak in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City in 2005, the DOJ noted.

“Upon the other hand, pursuant to Article 89 (1) of the Revised Penal Code and and by reason of the death of accused Jairon Ambot, Galib Andang a.k.a. Commdr. Robot, Nadzmi Saabtual, Alhamser Manatad Limbong, Abdurasid Banjeng Lim, Almusal Mawadi, Benhar Isni, Ibrahim Upao y Musa, Abraham Arany Jumdaini, Mariano Lomarda, Aldemar Saiyari y Murih, Yusof Saddai and Mohammad Taib Amil the instant cases against them are hereby dismissed and terminated,” the court said. 

In her 157-page decision, Bien noted the testimony of Roland Ullah, a utility person at Bordeo Divers and Sea Sports who was also a kidnap victim until his release, to prove conspiracy among the accused.

“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 their respective families and government,” Bien said in her decision.

The prosecution also presented ABS-CBN cameraman Val Cuenca who showed footage during trial that depicted the situation of the hostages as well as the negotiations between the government and the ASG.

“Notably, the video compilation taken by Val Cuenca depicting the negotiation between the kidnappers and the government corroborated by the former members of the Abu Sayyaf, proved that the release of the hostages little by little was contingent upon the payment of ransom money,” Bien said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla commended Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel Decena-Valdez for her work which led to the conviction of the ASG leaders and members.  

“Your devotion, courage and relentless efforts to pursue justice by all means is truly astonishing. Thank you for being a testament that justice will never be denied regardless of who or how strong the enemy may seem. Your resilience has indeed withstood the forces of terror and oppression which serve as an inspiration to us all,” Remulla said.

Remulla also thanked the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine Army, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and thegovernment of the United States of America for the cooperation and support.