Gordon: Martial law needed vs Abu Sayyaf bandits

BATTING FOR EDUCATION Senatorial candidate Dick Gordon expounds on the need for quality education as the key to ending poverty. RICHARD A. REYES

Former Sen. Richard Gordon on Wednesday said a strong government was needed to solve kidnappings in Mindanao and avoid foreign intervention in the country’s counterterrorism campaign as Abu Sayyaf bandits issued new threats to kill three hostages unless their ransom demands were met.

Gordon, chair of the Philippine Red Cross who is again running for senator in Monday’s elections, said in an Inquirer multiplatform interview on Wednesday he disagreed with the handling of 10 Indonesian captives who were released after their shipping company reportedly met a ransom demand earlier this week.

“We should be preventive and provide strong governance in Sulu and other areas where the Abu Sayyaf reigns,” Gordon said.

The 70-year-old humanitarian lawyer said if the next administration failed to provide strong governance in the region, foreign military forces might conduct hostage rescue missions in the country.

“It can happen to us that Indonesia, Malaysia, or Canada will come here and do things on their own,” he said. “Israeli forces did that when they conducted a rescue mission in Uganda (in 1976) and they became a laughingstock.”

He said this meant that there was absence of government in the African country at the time.

“And when there’s an absence of government, that void must be filled not by shooting our Muslim brothers but by providing firm and fair leadership that will uplift people’s lives. This is what we need in these areas,” Gordon said.

2 videos

Abu Sayyaf bandits on Wednesday posted two videos on YouTube—one showing the beheading of Canadian John Ridsdel on April 25 after their demand for a P300-million ransom was not met and another showing his fellow Canadian Robert Hall and his girlfriend, Marites Flor, and Norwegian Khartan Sekkingstad begging for their lives.

READ: Abu Sayyaf captives beg for help in new video

The four were kidnapped in Samal island, Davao del Norte province, on Sept. 21 last year.

The three remaining hostages were shown with armed, masked men behind them in a forested area. The bandits were demanding a P300-million ransom for each of them.

“I’m appealing to the Canadian government, the Filipino government, friends, family, anybody who can possibly help us. If the demand is not met we will be executed like our friend John was a few days ago,” Sekkingstad said.

“I’m appealing as well to the Philippine government please stop shooting at us and trying to kill us. These guys are gonna do a good job at that,” Hall said.

“To the Canadian government, I’ve been told to tell you to meet the demand. I don’t know what you’re doing but you’re not doing anything for us. John has been sacrificed, his family decimated, and I’m not sure what you’re waiting for,” Hall said.

“I am appealing to the Canadian government, to the Philippine government, to the President Noynoy Aquino, to Mr. Binay, to all who are running for President, to the owner of Marina where we were taken, Mayor Duterte, Manny Pacquiao, to all celebrities with soft hearts, Ms Kris Aquino, Mr. Robin Padilla, we need your financial help because we want to get out of here alive,” a tearful Flor said.

READ: Abu Sayyaf bandits who beheaded Canadian threaten to kill Aquino

“The lesson is clear. John Ridsdel has been beheaded. Now there are three remaining captives here. If you procrastinate once again … we will behead them all anytime,” one of the masked men warned.

READ: Beheaded despite P20-M ransom

In a press briefing, the Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, said the military was aware of the videos.

“We have not stopped. We have not let up on ongoing operations and will not cease on doing this until we are able to make these personalities or these bandits and criminals accountable for their actions,” Padilla said.

Gordon said he was among the first to receive the information of Ridsdel’s death.

‘Really saddening’

“I had people there and it is really saddening,” Gordon said, adding that he previously talked with the hostages and rebels whom he claimed were asking for P3 billion for the three foreign captives.

“It is important to open the lines of communication but never negotiate out of fear,” the senatorial candidate said.

He also said these bandits resorted to these activities because of the lack of attention given to the areas where they live.

“Everybody knows the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the poorest of the poor,” Gordon said.

Education

He said Muslims should have been given the proper education that they deserved.

“Not that they need caring, but what you need to do is put in the education that should be given to them,” Gordon said.

The Red Cross chair said the government should provide each child in these areas P1,000 a month so that they could have access to education.

“Maybe they will be in the light, not in darkness,” he added noting that many households still do not have access to clean water, classrooms are still lacking and financial assistance do not reach the residents.

Gordon said the government should have access to these areas to address poverty.

He noted that there should also be a firm hand in the military and a gun ban that should be implemented even in the far-flung areas. TVJ

RELATED VIDEO