After more than two decades, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has secured the conviction of 17 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants who abducted 21 individuals of various nationalities from a posh diving resort in Sipadan Island, Malaysia.
In April 2000, the heavily-armed band launched a lightning raid on the resort, seized the tourists, and whisked them off them via motorboat to an ASG stronghold in the hinterlands of Jolo, Sulu in the Philippines over 600 kilometers away.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday that this conviction is “a reflection of the agency’s unwavering efforts in upholding the rule of law without fear or falter.”
He commended Senior Deputy State Prosecutor (SDSP) Hazel C. Decena-Valdez for her perseverance and hard work which led to the conviction of the notorious terrorists.
“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,” Remulla told Decena-Valdez.
He also recognized the cooperation and support of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine Army (AFP-PA), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) – as well as the government of the United States of America.
In a 157-page decision rendered by the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 153 dated 16 October 2024, Judge Mariam Bien found 17 accused guilty for 21 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom and sentenced each of them to suffer reclusion perpetua for each count.
Among those kidnapped were 10 foreign tourists visiting the remote diving resort consisting of 3 Germans, 2 Finnish, 2 South Africans, 1 Lebanese, 2 French, while 9 Malaysians and 2 Filipinos were resort workers.
The hostages were released separately over several months after ransom money was paid to the kidnappers, who demanded ransom money from their families and their governments.
In the years since the daring raid, a number of the kidnappers were either killed or captured by Philippine authorities, some of them were jailed in Metro Manila pending the resolution of their cases.
It can be recalled that top ASG leaders including Galib Andang a.k.a. “Commander Robot’ and Nadjmi Sabdulla a.k.a. “Commander Global” perished during an attempted jailbreak in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City in 2005 (also known as the Bicutan Siege).
The ASG is designated as a terrorist organization by the Philippine and several other governments, including the United States.
It is recognized by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as one of its branches in Southeast Asia.
On March 22, 2024, the Philippine government announced that ASG had been “fully dismantled,” bringing an end to the decades-long jihadist insurgency.
However, remnants of the group are reportedly still operating from their Sulu stronghold.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “17 Abu Sayyaf terrorists convicted for 2000 Sipadan kidnappings.”
