Samal kidnapping ‘very isolated case’ – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - The kidnapping of three foreigners and a local in an island resort in Davao last Monday was “a very isolated case” and should not be a cause for concern, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. stressed the kidnapping of tourists in Samal Island occurred in 2001 and it was a foiled attempt on the part of Abu Sayyaf extremists.

“So that was 14 years ago. The police and military authorities are doing their level best to track and arrest the perpetrators so they can be brought to the bar of justice, and they are working for the early and safe release of those that were abducted from Samal Island,” Coloma said.

“The Island Garden City of Samal is one of the most popular and favored tourist destinations in the country on account of its scenic location, superior facilities and peaceful environment,” he added.

Officials, however, said last Monday’s kidnapping was a setback for the country’s tourism industry.

Former tourism secretary Richard Gordon said the kidnapping would undermine the gains of the government in promoting the Philippines as a tourist destination.

Gordon urged the government to safeguard other tourism havens and destinations in the country to prevent further kidnapping incidents.

“When you invite in the tourists, we should also make sure that they’re protected during their stay in the country,” said Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross and a former senator.

Gordon said the Department of Tourism should create a continuity plan to mend the tarnished image of the country to “restore loyalty and continued patronage both for foreign and local visitors.”

He also called on all tourism destinations to implement a tighter security plan.

Mindanao Development Authority chairman Luwalhati Antonino said the kidnapping is a setback to Mindanao’s tourism and investment upswing.

While stressing the incident is not reflective of the entire Mindanao situation, particularly in other major tourism and investment destinations, Antonino said “perception wise, it does stir a fair amount of concern.”

She said Mindanao has seen a sustained uptick in both domestic and foreign tourist arrivals in recent years in spite of travel advisories arising from isolated incidents of bombings and armed clashes in parts of the island.

Coloma, on the other hand, gave assurance that the authorities are investigating the incident and are going after the kidnappers. –Non Alquitran, Edith Regalado, Jaime Laude