More infrastructure, livelihood projects in Abu areas sought

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Local leaders in Sulu want more government investments in infrastructure and livelihood projects in areas where the Abu Sayyaf operates instead of amnesty for members of the notorious bandit group.

The local leaders said they were elated by Malacañang’s rejection of a proposal to grant amnesty to Abu Sayyaf members as means to achieve peace.

“What we need are roads, more schools, health centers, seaports, post-harvest facilities and technical support for the people where these bandits operate,” Sulu Gov. Hadji Sakur Tan said.

Mayor Roderick Furigay of Lamitan, capital of Basilan, said the government should accept the “painful reality” that even the huge rewards offered by the United States for the capture of Abu Sayyaf leaders have not significantly weakened the group.

“Let’s build roads that would interconnect their enclaves to schools, to the markets and to the national highways. By having schools, good roads and health centers, surely, they can no longer dupe people to join and support them,” Furigay said.

Tan, chairman of Sulu’s peace and order council, said they have restored peace and order in many parts of the province by stepping up infrastructure and livelihood activities involving poor Tausug families using foreign donations and funds from ARMM’s yearly infrastructure subsidy from the national government.

Tan said the release last week by ARMM Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan of more than P150 million of the P1-billion development subsidy for the year would greatly enhance peace efforts in the province.

“What we need in Sulu are more development packages, food security, decent jobs for our poor people and most importantly, schools where children of these Abu Sayyaf bandits can study for them to become productive and responsible citizens,” Tan said.

Mayor Wahid Sahidullah of Tongkil, an island province in Sulu, said any grant of amnesty to members of the Abu Sayyaf would only embolden more out-of-school youths to join the group, commit crimes in the pretext of religious and political goals, and go scot-free by availing of amnesty.

Ustadz Faried Solaiman Adas, chief of the ARMM’s Madaris Education Bureau, which has more than 600 moderate Muslim missionaries assigned in remote areas, said a big part of the region’s P1 billion subsidy for this year has been earmarked for farm-to-market roads, health centers, school buildings and improvements of government hospitals.

“If there are more schools in remote areas, children can study right in their communities. They will learn the true context of Islam through government-accredited preachers and not become Islamic militants in the hands of extremists,” Solaiman said. 

Data from the ARMM’s public works department showed that of the region’s P1-billion infrastructure subsidy this year, P411.5 million would be spent for projects in Maguindanao; P170 million for Lanao del Sur; P113 million for Basilan; P158 million for Sulu; P108 million for Tawi-Tawi, and P21 million for Marawi City.

The grants were channeled by Ampatuan through the ARMM’s five provincial governors, more than a hundred municipal mayors, and the 24 members of the Regional Assembly, dubbed as the region’s “little Congress,” as part of the regional government’s continuing devolution of powers and fiscal resources to local government units in the region.

In Davao City, US Ambassador to the Philippine Kristie Kenney also rejected the granting of amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf.

“People who kidnap innocent civilians should not be amnestied,” she said.

“These terrorist groups should be prosecuted and brought to justice,” Kenney told reporters at the Marco Polo Hotel where she met with new graduates of the Congressional Internship

Program for Young Muslim Leaders project of the US Agency for International Development or USAID.

No amnesty

Dangling amnesty to terror or bandit groups would only embolden them to continue their criminal activities, the camp of Sen. Manny Villar said.

Former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla, spokesman for Villar’s Nacionalista Party, said the Abu Sayyaf should not be allowed to get away with their terrorist acts, as this would mean a fresh surge in kidnap cases across the country.

“This is just like telling everyone to go ahead snatch as many victims as you like, and grab as much ransom as you want, because when all is finished and settled, you can always seek amnesty, stay out of jail, and get to enjoy your loot to boot,” he warned.

Amnesty, according to Remulla, is “totally absurd, and a virtual admission that law enforcement agencies are helpless” in stopping the ASG and other bandit groups, particularly in strife-torn Mindanao.

“Rewarding the ASG with an official reprieve is tantamount to abetting kidnappings,” he said.

“What will the government do next, offer amnesty to drug traffickers and bank robbers because law enforcement agencies are also unable to successfully run after them?” Remulla asked.

“The right thing to do is relentlessly run after the ASG, put them all behind bars, and seize all the riches they’ve amassed from their nefarious activities. This is the only way the state can effectively fight atrocious criminals,” he said.

Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez pointed out that the ASG does not fall under the category of political organizations. “They do not fall in that category. ASG members are acting as a criminal syndicate. They commit murder, kidnap for ransom and behead their victims,” he said.

“Amnesty can only be applied to groups with political offenses like the NPA, rightist groups and the MILF,” he said. Golez said the President could grant amnesty to any rebel group only with the concurrence of Congress.

Justice yes, amnesty no

Lawmakers led by Speaker Prospero Nograles also thumbed down a proposal for amnesty to Abu Sayyaf terrorists, saying “justice must never be compromised in the search for peace.”

“The Abu Sayyaf should be brought before the bar of justice, before our courts. If they plead guilty then and only then will the possibility of parole or pardon surface,” Nograles said.

“If this amnesty can ensure complete cessation of ASG activities, it might be a good option but it is my legal position that amnesty now is just not legally tenable,” he added.

“Amnesty is a subject that requires executive and legislative action. Amnesty does not cover criminal offenses perpetrated by those tagged as pure terrorists and criminal elements. So, as it is today, amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf is remote,” he said.

“To achieve peace we should find all legal solutions to this cycle of war and violence particularly in Mindanao and be creative and flexible. However, we must be very firm that we will not tolerate their wrong deeds,” he added.

Rep. Ruffy Biazon, vice chair of the House committee on national defense, said granting amnesty to Abu Sayyaf bandits is like giving them “retirement benefits.”

Biazon also said an amnesty for the bandits would hurt the morale of soldiers hunting the Abu Sayyaf. He said Abu Sayyaf atrocities have victimized many soldiers.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo reminded Sen. Richard Gordon – the proponent of the amnesty offer – that only groups fighting for a cause should be entitled to amnesty.

Appeal

In Tabiawan, Isabela City, Basilan, defense and security officials appealed for more help from local officials against the Abu Sayyaf, even as they vowed no letup in the operations to wipe out the bandit group.

“We don’t have any choice but to enforce the law in order for the peace loving people of Basilan to live in peace,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said in a dialogue with local government leaders and security officials.

He said local executives should not follow the example of Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Ann Sahidulla who admitted giving P50,000 to the Abu Sayyaf to secure the release of kidnapped Italian Red Cross volunteer Eugenio Vagni.

“What she did was an insult to all the efforts to end the Abu Sayyaf menace,” Teodoro told Marines and Special Action Force policemen. –-John Unson with Delon Porcalla, Jaime Laude, Edith Regalado, Philippine Star