Sayyaf man guilty of murder, homicide in 2001 Samal attack

MANILA, Philippines — Abu Sayyaf member Hasim Alibasa Radjuli alias Hassiem has been found guilty of murder and homicide for the death of two resort employees during a 2001 kidnapping attempt in Samal Island.

The judgment was penned by Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 Presiding Judge Marivic Victor last Dec. 3.

Hassiem was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua. He is also ordered to pay the heirs of victim Jimmy Culam P75,000 as civil indemnity, P75,000 as moral damages, P75,000 as exemplary damages and P50,000 as temperate damages.

He was also found guilty of homicide and was sentenced to suffer an indeterminate penalty of eight years and one day of prison mayor as minimum, to 14 years, eight months and one day of reclusion temporal, as the maximum.

He is ordered to pay the heirs of victim Rolando Jara P50,000 as civil indemnity, P30,000 moral damages, P30,000 as exemplary damages and P25,000 as temperate damages.

Meanwhile, Hassiem was found not guilty to the crime of piracy.

In May 2001, armed men raided the Pearl Farm Island resort on the southern island of Samal and tried to kidnap foreign tourists.

Although no one was seized in the attack, two resort workers were killed and another three were injured during a brief firefight. Police later said that the Abu Sayyaf group was behind the raid./ac