THE kidnapping of three foreign nationals and a Filipina from a high-end resort on Samal Island in Davao is a disaster for the Philippines.
The reputation that a country has around the world is like trust in a personal relationship. No matter how good things have been going, one incident of breaking that trust causes damage that can take years to rebuild. Former Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon said: “This [the attack on Samal Island] will undermine all our gains in promoting the Philippines as a tourism destination.”
The Philippines has suffered in three ways. This event takes the Philippines back to the general perception by some of being a “Third World Hellhole,” a phrase popular in the 1970s to describe lawless nations. The Philippines has not been able to adequately subdue—even after decades of various schemes—insurgent bandits that have proven they can operate relatively freely. The Philippine government is unable to insure a climate of safety and order for its people and visitors.
A comment by Philippine National Police Director General Ricardo Marquez may be accurate but is not reassuring to other countries. He said, “I think it’s clear [the kidnappings were] an isolated case. There is no trend of its happening in several parts of the country.”
The Canadian government said it has no nationwide advisory for the Philippines but it also said, “Bombings, shootings and kidnappings have occurred on public transportation, at airports, in shopping malls and in other public areas. Foreigners and places frequented by foreigners have been targeted. Explosive devices continue to be discovered by security authorities.”
Comments coming from President Aquino are not reassuring and may even make the perceptions worse. Translated from Filipino, “From the initial reports, it seems that this could be a new group. Of course, the intelligence services will take this into account. Why was this not on the radar? Or maybe this group was just newly formed.”
The president went on to say: “Even the motivation behind it is not clear. What is their purpose behind their kidnapping?” We have now told the world that the government has no idea who is behind the kidnappings and that we have no idea why the foreigners were kidnapped.
Will this give foreigners and their governments confidence that the Philippine government can protect tourists?
Chief Supt. Ferdinand Dulay, head of the Special Investigating Task Group Ocean View, said: “They [the troops] are in hot pursuit.” Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman for the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command, said the Air Force has also mounted regular sorties on the seas off Southern Mindanao, including the waters off Sulu and Basilan.
But as of now, the kidnappers have escaped.
We have full confidence in our police and military to do the best job that they can. However, something is obviously deficient in the government’s policy on actions that put the country on the front page of the global press for the wrong reason.
Image credits: jimbo Albano
1 comment
A very accurate assessment.