Duterte’s ‘suspect’ in Samal kidnaps nabbed for another kidnap case

The man identified by Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte as a suspect in the abduction of three tourists and a Filipina in Samal Island is already under police custody. But there’s a catch.

While suspect Bandajar Dangin Adona alias “Banon” was indeed arrested last Sunday in Tibungco, Davao City, his involvement in the Sept. 21 abductions in Samal Island has yet to be established.

The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), who effected Adona’s arrest, made this clarification in the heels of Duterte’s announcement on Tuesday that Adona was a suspect in the Samal Island kidnappings.

Adona was arrested by virtue of a warrant for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, issued by a Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Regional Trial Court judge, for the kidnapping of Amil Donaire Hipolan and two others in May 2015 at Kingking, Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province, the CIDG said, in a statement on Wednesday.

CIDG spokesperson Elizabeth Jasmin said that as of Wednesday, the agency was still investigating Adona’s links to the Samal Island kidnappings.

Adona, also wanted for murder, is believed to be a member of the “Venacio Malaydan-Jikiri Gulam Cristobal kidnapping group” said Senior Supt. Joel Pernito, CIDG Davao director.

Adona was arrested with suspected accomplice Tirso Orquisa Lugnasin by CIDG manhunt teams from eastern Mindanao and Davao city, Pernito said.

Confiscated from Adona’s possession were a .45 pistol and a fragmentation grenade, while from Lugnasin a .38 revolver, ammunition, and a fragmentation grenade.

Additional complaints for illegal possession of firearms and explosives are being readied by the CIDG against the suspects.