Court orders Abu leader brought to Davao for tria

DAVAO CITY — A Regional Trial Court judge in Davao del Norte has ordered the Armed Forces to bring a detained Abu Sayyaf leader to Tagum City to stand trial for murder in connection with the attack on the Barcelo Pearl Farm resort on Samal Island last May 22.

RTC Branch 34 Judge Gregorio Palabrica directed the immediate transfer of Nadzmi Sabdullah, alias Commander Global, from Zamboanga City so he can be arraigned.

Palabrica gave the military 15 days to reply to his order. Sabdullah and three companions stand accused for the Pearl Farm raid.

Sabdullah, known to be the "intellectual one" among the Abu Sayyaf leaders, was believed to have also masterminded the extremist group’s other kidnapping sprees, including the attack on the Sipadan resort in east Malaysia where more than 20 foreign tourists were taken hostage and brought to Sulu.

Sabdullah, who had a P5-million price on his head, was arrested in General Santos City last month. Also nabbed in the raid were three of his followers, Javier Sampang, Salik Sabdani and Santinar Sali, who allegedly took part in the pre-dawn attack on Pearl Farm that claimed the lives of two resort workers.

Sampang, Sabdani and Sali were arraigned last Thursday in Palabrica’s sala in Panabo City. They pleaded not guilty and denied any participation in the Pearl Farm raid.

Palabrica has scheduled the pre-trial of Sabdullah on Oct. 4, to give the military ample time to transfer him from Zamboanga City.

The military is expected either to ask the court to transfer Sabdullah’s trial to Metro Manila or put tighter security measures in place should he be brought to Tagum City.

Earlier, the Supreme Court ordered that the trial of alleged Abu Sayyaf leaders and members detained in Zamboanga City be held in Metro Manila. They will be locked up at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.