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Friday, December 07, 2007
14 Sayyaf rebels convicted for Dos Palmas kidnapping
MANILA –- Fourteen Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits were convicted by a special court for the high-profile abductions of American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and 18 others at the posh Dos Palmas resort in Palawan in 2001.
Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 69 Judge Lorifel Pahimna issued the guilty verdict Thursday morning.
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The case is being heard inside Camp Bagong Diwa, the headquarters of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Taguig, since 2005 for security reasons.
Sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each were: Abdulazzan Diamla alias Abu Umbram, Daud Baru alias Daud Daim, Ahmad Baky Abdullah, Sonny Azali, Alzen Jandul, Bas Ismael, Habir Asari, Mamar Llias Isamel Jaafar, Marvin Vincent Rueca, Margani Iblong Hapilon, Tuting Hannoh, Adzmar Aluk, Guillermo "Wahid" Salcedo, and Abu Khayr Moctar.
The court also ordered them to serve their sentences at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, although after the sentence was meted authorities temporarily brought them to the Metro Manila District Jail (MMDJ) located inside Camp Bagong Diwa.
Judge Pahimna also ordered each of the convicted ASG rebels to pay P3.5 million to the victims as exemplary damages.
Of the 85 suspects charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ), 23 were apprehended and tried while 18 appeared in court.
Three others, namely, Ghalib Andang alias Kumander Robot, Alhamzer Manatad Limbong alias Kumander Kosovo, and Nadzmie Saabtullah alias Kumander Global were killed in a botched prison break last March 15, 2005.
Limbong allegedly was involved in the Dos Palmas kidnapping orchestrated by Robot's group and a ferry bombing a year ago that killed more than 100 people in the Philippines' worst terrorist attack.
One of accused, Toting Hannoh struck a defiant note after the sentencing and said the Abu Sayyaf will not be weakened by their conviction.
"This is not the end of Abu Sayyaf. On the contrary, it will become stronger," he said.
Four of the accused were acquitted by the court for lack of evidence. They were Radzmar Sangkula, Sattra Tilao, Bashier Ordonez, and Bashier Abdul.
However, only Tilao was released from detention as the three have other kidnapping cases pending before the court.
"Thanks to Allah, I'm so happy I can take my daughter home,” said Tilao's mother Isnaria Kuranding, adding that her daughter was innocent of all the accusations.
Tilao was the sister of ASG spokesman, Aldam Tilao, better known as Abu Sabaya who was killed by the Philippine Navy's elite Special Warfare Group (Swag) and the Marines Force Reconnaissance commandos last June 21, 2002 in a sea battle off the coast of Zamboanga.
She was arrested by the authorities in Isabela, Basilan last October 2004 for allegedly providing logistical and medical support to the bandit group during the abduction.
Some victims who have filed the case against the suspects were present in the courtroom and expressed elation that justice was there's at least after several years of courtroom maneuvering and threats to their lives.
"We are happy over the convictions, but we are still not sure of our safety. Some of the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas are still at large but they deserve this," said Angelica Montealegre, one of the 20 hostages taken by the group.
Another hostage victim, Divine Recio, also said she is elated over the conviction but asked the government not to relent in its campaign against the bandit group.
Several of the hostages were killed including Martin Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap who died during a rescue operation conducted by the military on June 7, 2002.
The Burnham couple was missionaries for the Florida-based New Tribes Mission that was celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary when they were snatched by the Abu Sayyaf rebels at the upscale Dos Palmas resort on May 27, 2001, and taken by speedboat to Basilan Island.
Burnham, from Wichita, Kansas, returned to the Philippines in 2004 to testify against her captors.
Fellow American Guillermo Sobero and 17 Filipinos were also kidnapped including real estate magnate Reghis Romero who escaped at the height of an encounter in Lantawan town along with two other hostages, Rizza Santos and eight-year-old RJ Recio.
Sobero, from Corona, California, was among several hostages beheaded by the rebels.
The other hostages were released or managed to escape.
The US Embassy likewise commended the country's justice system for prosecuting the suspects, adding that the conviction will go along way to help the victims recover from the trauma inflicted during their ordeal.
"We commend the justice system for showing the rule of law," said Robert Courtney, the US Justice Department's attaché at the US Embassy here in Manila.
He said he will relay the decision to Gracia Burnham, who was wounded and her husband killed during their rescue. (AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (December 7, 2007 issue)
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