Hamsiraji Marusi Sali (Deceased)

Kidnapping and Murder of Americans in the Philippines.

RFJ paid a reward of $1 million for the information that led to the location of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) commander Hamsiraji Sali. 

Hamsiraji Sali participated in ASG’s August 28, 2000 kidnapping of Jeffrey Schilling and the May 27, 2001 Dos Palmas kidnapping incident. In exchange for Jeffrey Schilling’s release, ASG demanded $10 million and the release of three international terrorists from U.S. prisons: al-Qa’ida operatives Ramzi Yousef, Wali Khan, and Omar Abd al-Rahman (also known as “the Blind Sheikh”) the spiritual leader of the Egyptian terrorist group al-Gama’at al-Islamiyya.  

On April 12, 2001, Jeffrey Schilling successfully evaded his captors during a raid by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the ASG camp where he was being held and was repatriated to the United States. 

On May 27, 2001, the ASG kidnapped three U.S. citizens from the Dos Palmas Resort on Palawan in the Philippines. The three Americans were identified as Guillermo Sobero and Martin and Gracia Burnham, a U.S. missionary couple. On June 11, 2001, ASG spokesman Abu Sabaya announced that Guillermo Sobero had been executed as a “birthday present” for Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. On October 7, 2001, a human skull was recovered from Basilan Island, which was confirmed to be that of Guillermo Sobero. In June 2002, Martin Burnham died in the crossfire between Filipino soldiers and the ASG; Gracia Burnham was injured but was rescued and repatriated to the United States.

In February 2002, Sali was indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on the following counts: Conspiracy Resulting in Death, Hostage-Taking and three counts of Hostage-Taking Resulting in Death. On April 8, 2004, Philippine Army Scout Rangers, acting on information provided by multiple informants, launched an operation to capture Sali, who was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the soldiers.