Suspected Pentagon kidnap gang member nabbed in Davao Sur; another flees

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines – A suspected member of the Pentagon kidnap group, who had allegedly played a key role in several kidnappings in Davao del Sur in 2001 and 2002, was arrested by the police but another suspect managed to elude arrest, a belated police report said Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Michael John Dubria, the outgoing police director of Davao del Sur who supervised the operation, confirmed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Camlon Buat, 52, was arrested by combined police operatives of the Hagonoy town police office and the police’s Regional Intelligence Unit in Southern Mindanao on Saturday based on a warrant of arrest for carjacking.

Buat’s kin, Gabon Buat, however eluded arrest during the operation conducted in Barangay Clib in Hagonoy town, he said Wednesday.

Dubria said police seized from Camlon’s house a .357 revolver, a fragmentation grenade and ammunition. From Gabon’s house, the operatives – led by Supt. Nasruddin Tayuan – also seized a revolver, a homemade grenade launcher, a hand grenade and various types of ammunition.

“Camlon is the 7th on the most wanted list of RIU 11,” Dubria said.

Based on data provided by RIU 11, Camlon and Gabon were among Pentagon gang members who participated in the January 2002 kidnapping of a Davao car dealer heiress, Ma. Cecilia Bonifacio, and two other women.

Bonifacio and her companions were rescued after about a week in captivity and 22 kidnappers were arrested. Two ranking police officers, Supt. Willie Dangane and Supt. Efren Alcuizar, were later sacked for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of the victims.

RIU 11 said Camlon and Gabon were also involved in the 2001 kidnapping of Canadian Pierre Belanger in Hagonoy town while on a visit to his brother-priest.

Belanger was subsequently rescued in Davao del Norte with one of his kidnappers getting killed in the process.