MANILA, Philippines — The Pasig City Regional Trial Court on Thursday found Abu Sayyaf leader Hector Janjalani guilty of abducting students and teachers in Basilan in March 2000.
Janjalani was found guilty of 18 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention. He is meted with a penalty of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years imprisonment without the benefit of parole.
Janjalani’s co-accused Daud Baru, on the other hand, was found guilty of 52 counts of the same offense.
They were ordered to jointly and severally pay each of the victims P75,000 as civil indemnity ex delicto, P75,000 as moral damage,s and P30,000 as exemplary damages.
The decision is contained in a 391-page ruling by Judge Florian Gregory Abalajon.
Promulgation was done inside the New Bilibid Prison.
Earlier, the Pasig court convicted 66 other members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.
READ: Pasig court convicts 66 Abu Sayyaf men behind Basilan abduction
The court said 29 were found guilty of 52 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention. One accused was acquitted of the eight counts but was found guilty of 44 counts.
Ten of the accused were found guilty of 41 counts of serious illegal detention while 12 were convicted for 18 counts. Three accused were found guilty of 11 counts and 11 were found guilty of seven counts of the same offense.
Abu Sayyaf leaders Khadaffy Janjalani, Abu Sabaya, and Isnilon Hapilon were among those originally charged, but the three have died in various military encounters. Hapilon died last year at the height of the Marawi siege.
READ: FBI confirms Hapilon’s death through DNA test — Lorenzana
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong has represented the government on the case.
The kidnapping incident in 2000 involved the abduction of teachers and students at Sinangkapan Elementary School and Tumahubong Elementary School. /ee