2 men linked to Samal kidnapping arrested

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Two men linked to the kidnapping of three foreigners and a Filipina from the Holiday Ocean View Marina in Barangay Camudmud, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte last month have been arrested.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte identified one of the suspects as Pandajar Adona, alias Banon.

He is reportedly a resident of Bunawan district in Davao City.

A follow-up operation is being conducted to arrest the other kidnappers of Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites Flor, according to military intelligence sources.

The four are believed to have been taken to Sulu a few days after they were kidnapped.

No ransom demand for the hostages has been made to authorities, Duterte said.

Police are checking whether the two men arrested in Davao City on Sunday are linked to the kidnapping in Samal island.

One of the suspects has a standing warrant of arrest for kidnapping, murder and illegal possession of firearms from the Nagundura Regional Trial Court, according to Chief Supt. Federico Dulay, Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Ocean View chief.

“We are still checking their possible links to the Samal Island kidnapping,” he said.

“The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested the two men in Davao and investigators are looking into their link to the Samal Island kidnapping,” Dulay told The STAR in a telephone interview.

“We will identify them (suspects) in due time,” he said.

The suspects are now in the custody of CIDG Southern Mindanao, he added.

When they were arrested, the suspects were found in possession of a handgun and an explosive, Dulay said.

“Investigators are also checking affiliation of the two suspects to criminal groups operating in Mindanao,” he said.

Last Sept. 21, armed men snatched Ridsel, Hall, Sekkingstad and Hall’s Filipina girlfriend Flor from Ocean View resort in Samal island.

About 11 armed men arrived at the resort in Barangay Camudmud on a motorboat, and seized the victims before midnight of Sept. 21, according to reports reaching Camp Crame.

The kidnappers fled with their captives on a motorized banca towards an undetermined direction.

The kidnappers could be affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf, according to Duterte.

However, police and the military said they could be affiliated with the New People’s Army. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe