By Julie Alipala
Inquirer Mindanao
First Posted 19:12:00 02/16/2010
Filed Under: Acts of terror, Politics, Inquirer Politics
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Senator Richard Gordon said he would grant amnesty to lawless groups, including the Abu Sayyaf, should he win the presidency.
Speaking to Inquirer reporters and editors during a talk at the newspaper's office in Makati on Wednesday last week, Gordon said he would also hold dialogues with lawless groups to find out what they really wanted.
"If somebody is in pain, we try to cut them off, we try to find out what's wrong," he said.
Gordon said amnesty to members of the extremist group could help in efforts to make Sulu and Basilan peaceful.
"Amnesty for them to go down, some of the old guys would like to go down, they go down then there would be less guns out there," Gordon said.
Told that giving amnesty to members of the bandit group could strike the sensitivities of the Filipinos, Gordon said he had already considered that.
The Abu Sayyaf has become one of the most hated armed groups in the country because of its kidnapping and bombing activities.
Gordon admitted that his plan might not sit well with the electorate.
"(But) I am not a captive of popularity (survey). I don't dance to your tune or anybody's tune. I dance to what I am expected to do as a leader," he said.
Gordon said: "you have to be unafraid of what you say."
Basilan Vice Governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul said amnesty for members of the bandit group would be "one good step to address the growing security problem in Mindanao."
Sakalahul said not all members of the Abu Sayyaf were criminals. He cited the case of Puruji Indama, who he said, became a member of the group because he wanted to avenge the death of his family.
"He was a victim of injustice here. His family was killed because of a conflict on property. It ended up in a rido and unfortunately for Indama, he has no close friends, relatives and allies with the local government, with the police, with the military and other government offices, so he took up arms and joined the Abu Sayyaf," Sakalahul said.
But Sakalahul called for a proper screening of those to be given amnesty.
"I know a lot of them would like to start a new life. They are just waiting for the right opportunity and the right people," he said.
Father Angel Calvo, executive president of the Peace Advocates Zamboanga, said the only good thing he saw, at least for Gordon's benefit, was that "the Abu Sayyaf would for vote for him."
Prof. Octavio Dinampo, who survived a kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf, said amnesty should be granted only to people with certain political objectives "and not to terror groups such as the ASG."
"(The Abu Sayyaf) is for profit and material gains and not for political ends. Flash Gordon knows that and his offer is no more than political antics or rhetoric," he said.
Dinampo warned that the planned amnesty would "embolden other groups in the future to be more brutal and inhumane" since they can get amnesty in the end.
Gordon said another thing he would like to address was the "sad state" of education and health in Sulu.
He said he also wanted Sulu and Basilan developed to become one of the country's tourist destinations.
"There's abject poverty in Sulu and nothing is being done there," Gordon said.
Sulu and Basilan are known for pristine beaches and scenic views, aside from cheap and abundant fruits.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100216-253573/Gordon-Amnesty-for-Abu-Sayyaf-armed-groups
