Australian investors have threatened to pull out of Ilocos Norte if foreign nationals continue to be the target of violence or terrorism. This developed as Australian national Fraser Kirwan, 55, sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) following a failed attempt on his life last June 27. Kirwan and his wife Celine were on board their Mercedes Benz van on Monday night when a lone gunman fired upon the van the couple was riding near a cemetery in Barangay Pagsanahan in Badoc town, some 37 kilometers from Laoag City. The couple was just leaving the village on their way to the town proper when the lone gunman appeared along the road and started firing at the vehicle. Kirwan was hit in his right arm and left knee while his wife was unharmed. The couple managed to drive to the Badoc police station, some 500 meters from where the incident took place, after the shooting. Policemen immediately scoured the area where the shooting took place and recovered spent M-16 shells from the site. Kirwan runs a seven-room resort cottage in Badoc island where he and his wife have been living for seven years. Milagros Gonzales, DOT provincial chief said, the Kirwan couple was seriously considering whether or not they will continue operating their resort or just leave the town due to the incident. “This is a concern among foreign nationals because if we cannot assure their security, then they would be discouraged in putting up investments in Ilocos Norte,” Gonzales said.
Cristina Arzadon
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