‘Suspect’ in Samal kidnapping linked to another kidnap case

Photos of kidnap victims John Ridsdel, Robert Hall, Kjartan Sekkingstad and Marites Flor. (Police handout)

MANILA – Suspect Bandajar Dangin Adona alias “Banon,” who has been identified by Davao Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte as among the abductors of three foreigners and a Filipina in Samal Island last month, was arrested over the weekend in Tibungco, Davao City.

Adona’s involvement in the Samal Island kidnapping, however, was yet to be verified by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) despite Duterte’s earlier statement that the arrested suspect was among the abductors of Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites Flor.

Adona was also accused for kidnapping Amil Donaire Hipolan and two others in May last year at Kingking, Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province. He was imprisoned for serious illegal detention.

Confiscated from the suspect were a .45 pistol and a fragmentation grenade. His accomplice, Tirso Orquisa Lugnasin, was also arrested and possessed a .38 revolver, ammunition and a fragmentation grenade which were also retrieved by the police.

They would then be facing additional charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

‘Positively identified’

According to Duterte, the suspect was ‘positively identified’ through the CCTV footage showing the kidnapping.  He also disclosed that the 10 other kidnappers had already brought Ridsdel, Hall, Sekkingstad and Flor to Sulu.

Asking for assistance from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Davao Mayor sought for the release of the victims while investigation remained ongoing.