Abu Sayyaf man convicted in Samal resort raid

MANILA, Philippines — A Taguig City court has convicted a member of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf for the killing of two persons during a raid on a resort in Samal, Davao del Norte in 2001.

In a 14-page decision promulgated on Dec. 3 and released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday, Hasim Alibasa Radjuli, alias Hasseim, was found guilty of murder and homicide for the deaths of security guard Jimmy Culam and Pearl Farm Beach Resort employee Rolando Jara, respectively.

Judge Marivic Vitor of the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 226 sentenced Radjuli to life in prison for murder and ordered him to pay the heirs of Culam P275,000 in damages.

For the crime of homicide, Radjukli was sentenced to eight up to 14 years in prison.

The accused was also ordered to pay the family of Jara P135,000 in damages.

The court cited the testimony of state witness Julashrey Abtani, a fellow Abu Sayyaf member who identified Radjuli as the one who killed the victims on May 23, 2001.

The judge, however, ruled that the killing of Jara could not be considered as murder since Abtani never explained during his testimony how the victim was killed.

 The court acquitted Radjuli of piracy for forcibly taking the vessel MV Teresita 2, which the Abu Sayyaf used in their escape from the resort.

The court pointed out that the testimonies of Rolando Basalo and Wennie Duran, who were taken and forced to operate the vessel, were “in contrast with the testimony of Abtani, who said that the two were first seen on MV Teresita 2 and that they were not intimidated by the Abu Sayyaf men when they were ordered to steer the vessel for the group.”

Abtani confessed that 23 Abu Sayyaf members, led by Nadzmi Sabdullah alias Commander Global, raided the resort to kidnap foreigners.

 The witness said the suspects aborted the operation when their vessel called “kumpit” hit a rock and ran aground.