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Agence France-Presse

Seventeen members of an Islamic State-linked militant group have been sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping foreign and Filipino nationals in Malaysia nearly 25 years ago, the Philippine Justice Department said Monday.
In April 2000, members of Islamist extremist group Abu Sayyaf kidnapped at gunpoint 21 people from a holiday resort on the Malaysian island of Sipadan.
The hostages endured months of captivity in the jungles of Jolo, about 955km (515 miles) south of Manila, until they were ransomed for millions of dollars.
They included nationals of the Philippines, Finland, France, Germany, Lebanon, Malaysia and South Africa.

“This conviction is a reflection of the unwavering efforts of the DOJ in upholding the rule of law without fear or falter,” the Philippine Department of Justice said in a statement.
The 17 accused were found guilty on October 16 of 21 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom. All were sentenced to life imprisonment on each count, according to the 157-page decision.
Two of those convicted – Hilarion Del Rosario Santos III and Redendo Cain Dellosa – are listed on a United Nations Security Council Sanctions List.

Santos and Dellosa were tagged by the council in 2008 for their “association” with al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, and for taking part in operations of IS-linked militant groups Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiah and the Rajah Solaiman Movement, the Department of Justice statement said.
The kidnappers could not be charged with terrorism since the abductions happened in 2000, before the country had such applicable laws, it added.
The accused were ordered to pay the 21 victims 300,000 pesos (US$5,235) for civil indemnity, moral and exemplary damages.


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The Philippines

Philippines jails Abu Sayyaf kidnappers for life over Malaysia resort abductions

Malaysian hostages are seen being guarded by armed militants at a shack on Jolo Island, southern Philippines, in May 2000. Photo: Reuters

Two ex-hostage from France arrive in Paris in August 2000 after their release by Abu Sayyaf militants. Photo: AFP

Filipino soldiers fire a cannon as they pursue Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu province in October 2000. Photo: AP 

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Police officers react near the site of an attack in Jakarta in January, which was claimed by Islamic State. Photo: Reuters

Col. Restituto Padilla, Spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, watches a video purportedly showing for the first time two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipino woman who were abducted last month from a southern Philippines resort, following a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 at Camp Aguinaldo at suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. Col. Padilla reiterated the armed forces position that the military was trying to verify the video's authenticity and added that the military had rejected the demands. AP

Police inspects damaged vehicles after a bomb exploded last night in the southern port city of Zamboanga, southern Philippines on Thursday Aug.11, 2005. Authorities said at least seven men are being questioned in connection with the two bomb blasts that wounded at least 26 people and knocking off power in the area. Investigators suspect the al-Qaida-linked Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf group may have been involved. AP

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The yacht belonging to hostage Jurgen Kantner. Photo: EPA

Soldiers distribute pictures of a member of extremist group Abu Sayyaf Isnilon Hapilon, who has a U.S. government bounty of $5 million for his capture, in Butig, Lanao del Sur in southern Philippines February 1, 2017. Picture taken February 1, 2017. REUTERS/Marconi B. Navales

FILE PHOTO - Secretary Jesus Dureza (L), Philippines' government peace advisor, speaks while professor Rudy Rodil, a member of the government panel negotiating with Muslim rebels, looks on during a news briefing in Manila's Makati financial district, in the Philippines August 29, 2006. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside/File Photo

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The hostages, including nationals of the Philippines, Malaysia, France, Lebanon and South Africa, endured months of captivity in 2000


The hostages, including nationals of the Philippines, Malaysia, France, Lebanon and South Africa, endured months of captivity in 2000.
