The Philippine Department of Justice announced on October 21 that seventeen members of the Abu Sayyaf militant group have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in the kidnapping of foreign and Filipino nationals nearly 25 years ago.
In April 2000, the Islamist extremist group abducted 21 individuals from a holiday resort on the Malaysian island of Sipadan. The hostages, which included citizens from the Philippines, Finland, France, Germany, Lebanon, Malaysia, and South Africa, faced months of captivity in the jungles of Jolo, a remote area located approximately 955 kilometers (515 miles) south of Manila. They were ultimately released after millions of dollars in ransom were paid.
The seventeen convicted individuals were found guilty on October 16 of 21 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom, according to a 157-page court decision reviewed by AFP. Each convict received a life sentence for every count.
The Department of Justice stated, “This conviction is a reflection of the unwavering efforts of the DOJ in upholding the rule of law without fear or falter.”
Among those sentenced were Hilarion Del Rosario Santos III and Redendo Cain Dellosa, both of whom are listed on the United Nations Security Council Sanctions List due to their ties to Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. They are also connected to other militant groups, including Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah, and the Rajah Solaiman Movement.
Although the kidnappers were linked to terrorism, they could not be prosecuted under terrorism laws because the abductions occurred in 2000, before such legislation was enacted in the Philippines. However, the court ordered the accused to pay 300,000 pesos (approximately $5,228) in civil indemnity, along with moral and exemplary damages, to each of the 21 victims.
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