A TAGUIG City court has convicted an Abu Sayyaf member for murder and homicide over the group’s attack on Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Samal in 2001. In the ruling dated Dec. 3, Judge Marivic C. Vitor of the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 266 found Hasim Alibasa Radjuli guilty of the murder of Jimmy Culam, a security guard of the resort, and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years of imprisonment. Radjuli has also been found guilty of homicide for killing resort employee Rolando Jara, with a penalty of eight to 14 years, eight months, and one day in prison. The convict is also ordered to pay the family of the victims designated amounts for damages. The verdict emphasized the testimony of a fellow Abu Sayaff member, Julashrey Abtani, who was acquitted of piracy for lack of proof. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR