Gordon mulls tapping Sayyaf rebs as tourist guides

Coming soon: Abu Sayyaf guerrillas as tourist guides in what could be a "Survivor" series in Mindanao.

This novel idea was broached yesterday by Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, who said he intends to "convert" members of the notorious bandit group and prod them toward more productive pursuits.

"I’ll make them part of tourism promotion in Minda-nao," said Gordon, referring to the marketing program of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Gordon said Abu Sayyaf members carry out illegal activities, such as kidnapping for ransom, in order to provide for their families.

His position virtually supported apprehensions of Foreign Secretary Blas Ople that poverty could give rise to more terrorism in Mindanao.

One of the most infamous capers of the Abu Sayyaf was the raid on Dos Palmas resort in Palawan on May 27 last year, in which the bandits abducted 20 Filipinos and foreigners, including a US missionary couple. The crisis ended only last June with the deaths of American hostage Martin Burnham and Filipina nurse Edibora Yap, and the rescue of Burnham’s wife Gracia.

Thirteen months before the Dos Palmas caper, a faction of the Abu Sayyaf also raided the island resort of Sipadan in Malaysia. The victims, from several countries, were held ties in Sulu.

Gordon, however, believes that if the Abu Sayyaf have the chance to work legally, they would definitely cease and desist from their kidnapping-for-ransom, beheading, and other unsavory activities.

As part of the government’s effort to enhance investment opportunities and improve the tourism industry, the DOT and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) agreed to grant tax discounts to tourism development zones and tourism estates, which are also called "tourism economic zones."

Gordon said DOT would also support the establishment and operations of viable, world-class and environment friendly economic zones in suitable and strategic locations specifically in the countryside.

In addition, Gordon noted that the tourism enterprise zone would also provide a "one-stop shop" to facilitate investment and eliminate costly, long drawn-out and confusing processing.

"It will make investing easier and lower the cost of uncertainty of interaction," he said.