Court set to hand down verdict on 100 Sayyaf members

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Pasig City regional trial court is expected to hand down "anytime" its verdict on the suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits who were accused in the spate of high-profile kidnapping of foreign tourists in southern Philippines that gained them international notoriety.

Prosecutor Ricardo Cabaron revealed before newsmen here that the Pasig RTC has concluded the kidnapping trial and the verdict can be handed down anytime.

"We have terminated the trial of the cases of the Abu Sayyaf leaders and members and their verdict will come out anytime," Cabaron said.

He pointed out the court is preparing for the promulgation of the kidnapping cases against the more than 100 Abu Sayyaf bandits who are currently languishing at the Bicutan Jail in Taguig, Manila.

Cabaron expressed hopes that the verdict may finally bring justice to the kidnapping victims of the Abu Sayyaf.

The al-Qaeda linked bandit group gained international notoriety when it launched a spate of kidnapping of tourists in 2000 and 2001 starting from Sipadan island resort in Malaysia to the kidnapping of three Americans and Filipino tourists from Palawan in 2001.

One of the Americans, Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded. American missionary Gracia Burnham was wounded and rescued by Army commandos but her husband, Martin, was killed during the operation that ended their year-long jungle captivity.

The Abu Sayyaf has been included in Washington’s list of foreign terrorist organizations.

Continuous government offensives against the bandit group managed to decimate and capture some of its ranking leaders over a period of time.

The principal suspects in the kidnappings have been neutralized, including Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani, Jainal Antel Sali Jr. alias Abu Solaiman, Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya, and Hamsiraji Sali, who were killed in separate military offensives.

Most of those captured in the massive crackdown include those behind the 2000 and 2001 kidnappings.