After nearly 25 years, justice has finally been served to the families of 21 hostages who were kidnapped by an Islamic State-linked militant group in Malaysia. The Philippine Justice Department announced that 17 members of the Abu Sayyaf militant group have been sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the kidnappings.
On April 23, 2000, Abu Sayyaf members stormed a holiday resort on the Malaysian island of Sipadan, taking 21 people hostage at gunpoint. The captives, who included nationals from the Philippines, Finland, France, Germany, Lebanon, Malaysia, and South Africa, were held in the jungles of Jolo, about 955 kilometers south of Manila, for several months until they were released in exchange for millions of dollars in ransom.
According to the Department of Justice, the 17 accused were found guilty of 21 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom. The guilty verdict was delivered on October 16, and each count carried a sentence of life imprisonment. The decision was outlined in a 157-page document seen by AFP.
In a statement, the Department of Justice expressed its commitment to upholding the rule of law, saying, “This conviction is a reflection of the unwavering efforts of the DOJ in upholding the rule of law without fear or falter.”
Two of the convicted kidnappers, Hilarion Del Rosario Santos III and Redendo Cain Dellosa, have been linked to several international terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaeda, and are listed on a United Nations Security Council Sanctions List. The pair were tagged by the council in 2008 for their association with Osama bin Laden and their participation in operations of IS-linked militant groups, such as Jemaah Islamiyah and the Rajah Solaiman Movement.
Unfortunately, the kidnappers could not be charged with terrorism due to the lack of applicable laws in the Philippines at the time of the abductions. However, the court ordered the accused to pay the 21 victims 300,000 pesos ($5,228) in damages for civil indemnity, moral, and exemplary damages.
The conviction is seen as a significant achievement in the Philippines’ fight against terrorism and a testament to the country’s unwavering commitment to justice and the rule of law.
