VALIDATION. Police Regional Office 11 spokesperson Supt. Antonio Rivera says the Special Investigation Task Group on the Samal island kidnapping incident will be validating if the two “persons of interest” who were arrested on Sunday were involved in the kidnapping. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – A police official today said the kidnappers of three foreigners and a Filipina in a resort in Samal island two weeks ago has not yet made contact or issued any demand for ransom.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesperson Supt. Antonio Rivera said they cannot give an “exact” statement as of press time related to the identity of the abductors and the status of the kidnapped victims until the suspects communicated with the authorities or the victims’ families.
“We cannot give (an) exact statement because there is no contact yet from the abductors. Until now, that question lingers in our minds why they are not contacting the victims’ families,” he said.
He said the Special Investigation Task Group is still investigating on what group the suspects belong to.
“Our gathering of information is still ongoing and the investigation conducted by the SITG transcends boundaries so meaning we are already coordinating with other law enforcement agencies in our neighboring regions to help us,” he said.
Two persons of interest who might have involvement on the kidnapping incident were nabbed by the authorities on Sunday.
Bandajar Dangin Adona alias “Banon” and Tirso Torquiza Lugsanin are considered as persons of interest in the kidnapping said Rivera.
He said during their arrest, a .38 revolver, a .45 pistol and a fragmentation grenade were recovered from their possession.
Charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives were filed before the Regional Trial Court here on Tuesday afternoon.
He said Adona has an existing warrant of arrest for kidnapping, murder and serious illegal detention filed in Compostela Valley Province Regional Trial Court.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said Adona was identified through the closed-circuit TV footage taken during the abduction.
The mayor also said the kidnappers could be affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf Group.
However, Rivera said they are still validating the identities of the suspects if they have involvement in the kidnapping.
“May ginawang enhancement pero di masyadong clear pa rin. Pero tinitingnan pa yan ng SITG natin para makita kung itong isang nahuli ay nakuha sa footages ng CCTV (An enhancement (of the CCTV footage) was made but still its not that clear. Our SITG are still looking closely if one of those arrested is in the CCTV footage,” he said.
At around 11:30 pm on September 21, armed men abducted Krjartan Sekkingstad, 56, a Norwegian and Canadians John Ridsdel, 68 and Robert Hall, 50 and his partner named Tess. (With a report from Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
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