Arrested Abu Sayyaf leader’s phone subjected to forensic exam

AUTHORITIES have subjected the cellular phone of an arrested Abu Sayyaf henchman to digital forensic examination, a police official said.

Combined police and military operatives arrested on Saturday Ustadz Ahmadsali Asmad Badron, alias Hamad Ustadz Idris and Ammad, in Barangay Lamion, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

The bandit was nabbed on the strength of warrant of arrest issued by the court for six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Zamboanga Peninsula chief Senior Superintendent Edgar Danao said they hope to get more information on Badron's recent activities through the digital forensic examination on his cellular phone since he held some of Abu Sayyaf's vital tasks.

Danao stated in his report to CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. that Badron has served a facilitator to Jemaah Islamiyah militants and the radical group Hamas.

Badron was among the original members of the Abu Sayyaf Group and a cousin of the late Commander Nadzmie Saabtula alias Global, and was the trustee of the group who kept millions of pesos of ransom.

He was also involved in the kidnapping of 21 people, mostly Europeans, in 2000 from Sipadan, Malaysia and the kidnapping of Jehovah's Witnesses in the same year, said Danao.

The Abu Sayyaf, he added, also worked under the group of the late Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot. (Bong Garcia)