Sara Duterte, journalist Robles clash over Mindanao tourism plan

Vice President-elect Sara Duterte over the weekend slammed veteran journalist Raissa Robles for saying that developing Mindanao as a tourist destination might result in kidnappings by rebel groups.

Duterte issued the statement on Saturday in response to Robles' June 2 tweet that says the plan of incoming Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco for Mindanao would “please” the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as there would be more “potential kidnap victims" for them.

Apparently, Frasco would like to open up Mindanao to tourism. Im sure the extremist Abu Sayyaf and other bandits would be pleased by the prospects of so many potential kidnap victims. Way to go, Frasco. Prep yourself for ransom negotiations. ASG might ask you to nego personally. https://t.co/ARY3m5YJu9

— Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) June 2, 2022

According to Duterte, the comment was “grossly discriminated against all Mindanawons, especially those living in Moro communities,” adding that kidnappings in Mindanao have been “significantly reduced” since 2016.

“What Robles did was a demonization of Mindanao and an insult to its people, who also deserve to experience the gains of the Duterte administration over the past six years,” the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte said.

“Robles clearly wanted to undervalue everything that the Duterte administration has done in keeping the peace and security in Mindanao and ensuring that concerns caused by terrorist organizations, including kidnap for ransom groups, are addressed appropriately with the help of local governments and leaders of communities,” she added.

Duterte stressed that Robles’ statement was “replete with journalistic recklessness and irresponsibility” and she should thus “be ashamed of herself for dangerously trying to stoke and encourage terrorist groups to target tourists in Mindanao.”

'Fragile peace'

Robles, in response, maintained that parts of the region still have "fragile peace and security."

“Muslim Mindanao has made great effort and progress to achieve peace. But it is still a fragile peace and security, peace and order are still serious concerns in certain parts,” she said in a message to GMA News Online on Monday.

“Certain parts might not yet be ready for that (tourism) and I fear, one misstep, could set back the entire Mindanao. The last known tourist kidnapping took place only in 2019,” she added.

Robles was referring to the kidnapping of a British national and his Filipina wife by four armed men in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur, in October 2019. Police said the armed men forcibly took the couple outside the beach resort that they own.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Robles explained that due to alleged security issues, parts of Mindanao may be a “magnet for bandits and kidnappers to prey on unwitting tourists” if the Department of Tourism (DOT) under the incoming Marcos administration will develop it for tourism.

“The DoT should coordinate closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to carefully craft the tourism message and decide which areas are ready for tourism and go from there. The DoT cannot just open up the entire south to tourism. Because if a kidnapping of a tourist in Mindanao takes place, all other tourists spots in the country could suffer from the resulting negative worldwide publicity,” she said.

Frasco, who is also Duterte’s spokesperson, earlier vowed to extend support to the Marcos administration in revitalizing local tourism to “significantly propel the Philippines’ post-pandemic economic growth.” —KBK, GMA News