ASG ‘medics’ charged with rebellion

Two suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits believed to have acted as “medics” to wounded terrorists in Marawi City have been charged with rebellion yesterday before a Cagayan de Oro city regional trial court.

Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes identified the respondents as Jadzrie Harad Saabdula, 50, and Jamal Kalib, 18. They were arrested after purchasing assorted medicines at a pharmacy in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. Marawi is 97 kilometers from Pagadian and is accessible by land – eight hours by bus and more than two hours on private car.

“Saabdula is a nurse from Jolo who went AWOL (absent without leave),” noted Balmes.

“He (Saabdula) allegedly provided medical aid to the combatants,” he added.

Saabdula, who works as a nurse at the Banguingui (former Tongkil town) municipal hospital has been identified as the brother of slain ASG leader Nadzmi Saabdula alias Commander Global.