United Kingdom warns citizens on travel to Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — The British Embassy in Manila on Friday advised its citizens against all but essential travel to Cebu province following information it received about the threat of terrorism in the area.

This is the latest in a series of warnings issued by several governments against visits to some parts of the Philippines.

Aside from advising British citizens in the Philippines against all but essential travel to Cebu including the municipalities of Dalaguete and Badian, the government of the United Kingdom also warned its nationals against going to West Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago due to the possibility of a terrorist attack, kidnapping and clashes between Philippine security forces and insurgent fighters.

“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups,” the advisory said.

It added: “The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao and to the south of Cebu province, up to and including the municipalities of Dalaguete and Badian, due to the threat of terrorism.”

The UK Embassy said that Philippine authorities had received unsubstantiated but credible information that Abu Sayyaf fighters may conduct kidnappings in the Sulu Sea, the Sulu archipelago and the seas off the coast of east Sabah.

“[A]ny vessels sailing in the area could be targeted; you should carefully consider travel plans and be especially vigilant at this time,” the embassy said.

It said that terrorist groups were likely to try to carry out attacks in the Philippines. It added that these terror organizations continued to plan attacks and had the capacity and intent to carry out violent activities anytime and anywhere in the Philippines.

“Attacks could happen anywhere, including in places visited by foreigners, like airports, shopping malls, public transport and places of worship. You should remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious to the local authorities,” the embassy said.

On Tuesday, both the US and the UK warned their citizens against traveling to the tourist province of Palawan, citing information the Americans received that terrorists were planning to stage attacks and kidnap foreign nationals in the said locations.

“The US Embassy has received credible information that terrorist groups may be planning to conduct kidnapping operations targeting foreign nationals in the areas of Palawan province, Philippines, to include Puerto Princesa City, and the areas surrounding Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park,” the American advisory said.

The UK, citing the American advisory, told its citizens to carefully consider their travel plans and exercise heightened vigilance in the said areas.

"You should carefully consider travel plans, and exercise heightened vigilance in these areas," it said.

This travel advise is the latest issued on the Philippines in recent weeks. On Sunday, after two bombs rocked Quiapo district in Manila killing two people and hurting several others, the British Embassy alerted and told its citizens to avoid the area.