July 7, 2001, Inquirer News Service, Low profile intellectual behind Abu Sayyaf Group: Commander Global, by Noralyn Mustafa,

JOLO, Sulu --- Nadzmie Saabdulla alias Commander Global, the first of the Abu Sayyaf leaders to fall into the hands of the law, commands respect not only among his peers but foreign journalists as well. 

This was clearly shown in a video, shown on local television of an abduction of 10 foreign journalists during last year’s Sipadan hostage crisis. 

Although the hostages, mostly European television crew and reporters, were released after 12 hours with the payment of $25,000 in ransom, the footage taken by an Australian cameraman preserved on film their experience from beginning to end. 

More importantly, it vividly demonstrated the leadership dynamics within the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf. 

The video initially showed Galib Andang alias Commander Robot talking with a German TV reporter. 

The two appeared like old friends, smiling and laughing, as if sharing jokes. Then one noticed some movement in the background, as other foreign journalists appeared to be walking in single file, apparently obeying inaudible orders spoken by an unseen person. 

The camera panned to Robot and the German. Robot was holding the arm of the foreigner, as if holding him back, but the other seemed to be insisting that he wanted to join the rest. 

The expression on Robot’s face turned serious. He whispered something to the German, but the latter pointed to himself and then to a direction off-camera, obviously where his colleagues were. 

Then a voice was clearly heard shouting in Tausug: “Why? Let him come, let him come right now.” 

Andang reluctantly let go of the German’s arm, and, looking relieved, the journalist eagerly went off to join the tail end of the line disappearing into the jungle, straight into captivity. 

The voice that Robot was compelled to obey belonged to Global. 

The soft-spoken Global maintained a low profile. 

Knowledgeable in Islam and a wide reader, he is the acknowledged “intellectual” among the Abu Sayyaf leaders, impressing even foreign journalists with his articulateness and seeming sincerity in pursuing his “cause.” 

"Impassioned” was how a French radio correspondent described Global’s explanation of his ideology: Only governance based on the Shari’ah, and a return to the strict moral precepts of Islam, would be workable for the Muslims. 

His credibility among the Abu Sayyaf followers is apparently based on the simple fact that he lived what he preached. He adhered to a spartan lifestyle and spent his days according to a rigid program of prayers, reflection and reading. 

It is said that among the known Abu Sayyaf leaders, he is the only one who completed a college education, earning a degree in criminology from the Zamboanga A.E. Colleges. 

In the TV footage of the press conference yesterday during which the military presented Global to the media, a close-up showed a round scar on his left hand, the stamp of membership in the Beta Sigma fraternity at the University of the Philippines. 

Among his “brods” are former Flagship Projects Secretary Robert Aventajado and retired Gen. Guillermo Ruiz, both of whom figured prominently in the negotiations for the release of the Sipadan hostages. 

During that months-long hostage crisis, Global and fellow Indanan native Abu Pula Jumdail fortified themselves in Samak in Talipao, near Bandang, Robot’s territory.

But it was Robot or his emissaries who made the trips to Samak, and not the other way around, for no major decision was made without Global’s concurrence. 

Abu Sayyaf followers related that whenever the leaders discussed certain issues, Global would sit quietly listening, and usually spoke only after everyone had exhausted his point. 

When he did speak up, everyone listened, and almost always agreed with him. 

It was Global who composed statements to the media and letters to the negotiators, which were usually hand-written in a neat old-fashioned script. 

The language was elegant, sometimes stilted, but always revealing an educated writer. 

In yesterday’s TV footage, Global was almost unrecognizable as he stood behind the row of ranking militar officers. 

He was handcuffed, bareheaded and wearing a striped polo shirt. 

As strange as the handcuffs was the attire, Global’s usual garb being the Arabian juba, a long-sleeved shirt and an Afghan rebel’s cap. Only the sparse goatee remained. 

One wondered why he did not become a police officer instead, given his qualifications. Or maybe a local political leader, so he could help bring about the social reforms he envisioned. 

If such questions about Global and other potential Muslim leaders can be answered, then perhaps we can begin to find answers to why the Abu Sayyaf came to be, and why it continues to exist.