THE Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CCCP) has expressed confidence the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will finally put an end to kidnapping and killing of foreign nationals staying in the Philippines.
Julian H. Payne, national president of the CCCP told reporters Saturday night at the sidelines of the Canada Day celebration at the Seda-Abreeza Hotel that said he is hopeful beheading of foreign nationals will not happen again as Duterte is firm on his position to improve law and order in the country.
Although they have condemned the act of terrorism against two Canadian nationals, Payne made clear that bilateral relationship between Philippines and Canada will not be affected.
"We condemned that beheading, it was brutal. But I don't think it will affect the relationship in the longer term, I don't see that as a long term impediment. I think what happens all whenever you have violence or security problems (in a certain are) it does make people apprehensive for a short while but with the position taking by the President-elect Duterte to improve the law and order and peace and security it will help spur investments," he said.
The Canadian national John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were beheaded months after they were abducted held captives of the Abu Sayaff, an islamist group based in Mindanao last September 21, 2015 at the Oceanview Resort on Samal Island. The two late Canadians were among the four people abducted. (Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad, who are still in the hands of the Abu Sayaff and Filipina Marites Flor, wife of Hall who was freed Friday, June 24.
Neil Reeder, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines, in a separate interview said that they want to see reduction on the risk of terrorism especially in Mindanao.
"I can't really speculate on where all will go (with the new administration) but we do want to see a reduction on the risk of terrorism obviously, we suffered greatly as Canadian, we hope that the incoming President will be able to deal with it," Reeder said.
At present, the Canadian government is focused now on the investigation and working on the Philippine Authority to ensure that they can to pursue a very aggressive prosecution and bring the perpetrators to justice.
"We want to see peace, security, development which will provide for more stability and more environment for tourism and investments," Reeder said.
"Hopefully we can be able to support the President across the range of initiatives that he undertaken as many of his programs are paralleled to our programs assisting the poorest of the poor, development assistance on women, youth, Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises, and poverty reduction," he added.
Tourism effect
Payne said that they are positive that the travel advisories by the Canadian embassy against some parts of the country particularly in Mindanao will soon be lifted when the promised improvement of peace and security in Mindanao will be realized.
The travel advisories exempted Davao City.
"Travel advisories has always been the major challenge to Mindanao when we talk about foreign tourism arrivals," Reeder, for his part, said.
But he also said that while safety for tourists must be of prime concern by the local destination, tourists themselves must also be responsible.
"It goes both ways," Reeder said.