By Jeffrey Damicog
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Hector Janjalani was convicted on Thursday for his involvement in the 2000 kidnapping incident in Basilan, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong said the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 261 found Janjalani, the brother of slain ASG founder Abubakar Abdurajak Janjalani and Khadafy Janjalani, guilty in 18 out of the 52 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention as defined and penalized under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended.
Ong, who is the lead prosecutor in the case, said the promulgation was made at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City where Janjalani is imprisoned.
In the 391-page decision, Pasig Judge Florian Gregory Abalajon sentenced Janjalani “to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua without the possibility of parole for every count.”
The judge also ordered Janjalani to jointly and severally pay “each of the offended parties or their respective heirs the amounts of P75,000.00 as civil indemnity ex delicto, P75,000.00 as moral damages, and P30,000.00 as exemplary damages.”
On the other hand, in the same decision, the judge acquitted Abdulazzan Diamla from all 52 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
Last Dec. 14, the RTC promulgated a decision against Janjalani’s 65 co-accused in the case concerning the March 20, 2000 kidnapping incident in Barangay Sinangkapan in Tuburan town, Basilan which included a number of teachers and students.
Those convicted were also sentenced “to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua without the possibility of parole for each count.”
They were also ordered to jointly and severally pay “each of the offended parties or their respective heirs the amounts of P75,000.00 as civil indemnity ex delicto, P75,000.00 as moral damages, and P30,000.00 as exemplary damages.”
Among the convicted, 29 defendants were guilty in all 52 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
The RTC also listed one ASG member who is convicted for 44 counts; 10 for 41 counts; 11 for 18 counts; 11 for seven counts; and one for 11 counts.
On the other hand, the court also acquitted 20 persons from all 52 counts of the offense.