EDITORIAL - Kidnapped

Lest the government has forgotten, there are six foreigners from at least five countries who continue to be held captive by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu. A P50-million ransom is reportedly being demanded for two of the foreigners, from the Netherlands and Switzerland, who were snatched in Tawi-Tawi where they were on a bird-watching tour. The other captives are from Australia, India and Japan. Security officials have withheld the identity and nationality of the sixth captive.

All countries have security problems, and Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi have never been tourist or investment destinations. But long-festering security problems in those three provinces, and in several other areas of Mindanao, are still bad news particularly for a country that is trying to attract more investors and tourists. A big loser is Tawi-Tawi, which is trying to change its image and transform the province, with its unique culture and natural attractions, into a tourist destination. Those two bird watchers could have brought back with them to Europe stories of how truly fun it is in the Philippines.

While all countries have security problems, each is judged by the measures taken to promote public safety. Tourists aren’t the only ones threatened in certain areas in the Philippines; major investments, particularly in underdeveloped rural areas where they are most needed, also suffer violent, destructive attacks staged by members of the New People’s Army and other extortion groups. Foreign engineers working on development projects have been kidnapped and held for ransom.

If these kidnapping cases aren’t solved soon and further attacks prevented, the government could find itself facing a situation similar to the time when the entire Philippine travel and tourism industry suffered from the Abu Sayyaf’s kidnapping spree in Sulu and Basilan. Allowing the Abu Sayyaf to pocket huge sums of ransom money, reportedly with certain local executives sharing in the loot, guaranteed the flourishing of kidnapping for a few more years. This problem must be dealt with quickly and decisively, with no one being allowed to profit from the crime.