EDITORIAL - First make the country safe

It’s useless protesting against the travel advisory issued by the United States, warning Americans about their safety particularly in certain areas in the Philippines. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, Americans have an even more compelling need to protect themselves. And the Philippines is one of several countries where terrorists with known links to Osama bin Laden operate.

Two Americans are still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group, whose late founder trained with the mujahideen in Afghanistan. A third American captive was reportedly beheaded shortly after they were snatched from an upscale resort in Palawan last May. Another American, Jeffrey Schilling, was freed earlier this year after several months in captivity.

Also, government and security officials themselves have been sending alarming signals since Sept. 11. There were reports of foreigners suspected to have placed the US embassy under surveillance. A woman nabbed at the Manila Hotel was interrogated on suspicion that she is the wife of Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya and was part of a terrorist plot in Metro Manila. Immigration officers regularly report apprehending Middle Eastern and South Asian nationals on suspicion that they are terrorists. Why shouldn’t Americans, already jittery about another suicide attack and now biological warfare, give their citizens ample warning about trouble spots in the Philippines?

Instead of huffing and puffing against that US travel advisory, which urges Americans in the Philippines "to maintain a high level of vigilance and to increase their security awareness," the Arroyo administration should do the harder thing, which is to eliminate the threat that called for the issuance of the warning. Even without the advisory, the country has been getting bad press abroad because of the Abu Sayyaf. The country’s greatest contribution to the war against terrorism is the neutralization of this extremist group. There are other threats that must be addressed, among them ransom kidnappings perpetrated by ordinary criminals. Make the country safe and there would be no need to worry about negative travel advisories.