Abu Sayyaf warned: Do not harm doctors on medical mission to Basilan

MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo warned today terrorists from harming a team of medical doctors who are in Basilan to beef up the medical practitioners conducting a medical mission in the area.

“Harm them and Hades will come to you,� the President said. Hades is the lord of the dead and ruler of the netherworld.

The President issued the stern warning during her keynote speech on the 21st anniversary celebration of the St. Luke’s Heart Institute held at the institute’s auditorium on the 14th Floor of the St. Luke�s Medical Center’s Cathedral Heights Building in Quezon City.

The President said she recently sent a team of doctors from the V. Luna Medical Center to augment the field hospital in Zamboanga being used by members of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom).

President Arroyo added that the medical mission will also conduct free clinics in the areas affected by the hostilities in Basilan — Lamitan, Isabela and even Tipo-tipo.

“These medical professionals are on a mission of compassion. They will treat people whose lives you (terrorists) have worsened by your belligerence when the peace we have pursued would have allowed them to join the rest of the nation in productive pursuits,” the President said.

Last July 10, 14 Marine soldiers where killed when suspected members of the Abu Sayaf Group ambushed the government troops in a woody portion in Tipo-Tipo. Ten of the Marines were beheaded.