The country’s economy will likely take a beating should the government fail to achieve an acceptable resolution to the Mamasapano bloodbath, which took the lives of 44 National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) commandos deployed in the clash, a Cabinet official warned.
Speaking in front of regional journalists on Tuesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the effects of the recent Mamasapano clash on the economy will depend on how the government will handle the crisis.
“The effect of the development could be short term or long term, depending on how we resolve the issue. If we put a closure on the issue soon, we would not feel that much…but if not resolved and lead to further uncertainty, it will definitely hurt the economy,” Balisacan said.
This is amid the Palace’s declaration earlier that the clash did not hurt investors’ confidence in the country.
The government earlier said what happened was a “misencounter” with the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters on January 25. The President declared January 30 as a Day of Mourning for the 44 SAF commandos killed in the clash.
“As what happened in the past, the peace and order problem over the last decade has a very considerable impact. These are foregone opportunities,” Balisacan said.
The socioeconomic planning secretary further said Mindanao could grow even faster than other areas of the region if peace is attained in the area.
“The 7-percent to 8-percent [growth] we are seeing could get higher if we can get Mindanao
moving, because the potentials of Mindanao are enormous. It can grow much faster than the rest of the country if we can get peace there,” Balisacan said, noting the region’s potential to be an agribusiness spot, as well as haven for tourism and light industries. The government has formed a Board of Inquiry to probe what really happened in the Mamasapano massacre.
3 comments
DAP and Mamasapano Massacre – 2 of PNoy’s legacy.
“the clash did not hurt investors’ confidence in the country”
Seriously? This is how arrogant our government is? Pnoy and his incompetence led to the death of 44 men and him failing to take responsibility discourages investors even more.
Provocations should always be answered back with strength and not with weakness. I doubt if the truth will be revealed to the public.