The Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 261 yesterday convicted Abu Sayyaf Group leader Hector Janjalani for his involvement in the kidnapping of students and teachers in Tuburan, Basilan in 2000, the Department of Justice said.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong said the court found Janjalani, the brother of slain ASG founder Abubakar Abdurajak Janjalani and leader Khadaffy Janjalani, guilty in 18 out of 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 in Muntinlupa City where Janjalani is imprisoned.
In a 391-page decision, Pasig RTC Branch 261 Judge Florian Gregory Abalajon sentenced Janjalani “to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua without the possibility of parole for every count.”
Abalajon also ordered Janjalani to jointly and severally pay “each of the offended parties or their respective heirs the amounts of P75,000 as civil indemnity ex delicto, P75,000 as moral damages, and P30,000 as exemplary damages.”
On the other hand, Abalajon acquitted Abdulazzan Diamla of all 52 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
Last Dec. 14, the court promulgated a decision against Janjalani’s 65 co-accused in the March 20, 2000 kidnapping of teachers and students in Barangay Sinangkapan in Tuburan.
Those convicted were also sentenced “to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua without the possibility of parole for each count.” (Jeffrey G. Damicog)