US exec: Southern Cebu safe for travel

CEBU, Philippines — A United States government official has revealed that the US has lifted an advisory warning its citizens from going to southern Cebu, assuring the place is now safe for travel.

Russel Brown, consul general of the United States of America, confirmed to local reporters during his visit to the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) yesterday that American citizens are now free to travel to Cebu province.

“There was a travel advisory on issues that were specific threats that we received. We take these things very seriously and, if you have noticed, it has not been extended; that was over a year ago. There were events that happened last year that took away some of the threat,” Brown said.

The US Embassy in Manila first issued an advisory against traveling to southern parts of Cebu on November 3, 2016. It then reissued another advice on April 9, 2017, citing “unsubstantiated yet credible information” of terror attacks and kidnappings in Central Visayas.

Two days after, government forces clashed with 11 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Inabanga, Bohol, who were all neutralized.

Almost a year after, officials from the Philippine National Police and local government of Bohol have assured the province has recovered from the attack and tourism activities back in full swing.

Brown said that based on their country's laws, they are mandated to share the information concerning threats with their citizens who are in Cebu.

“We have a requirement in our law in the United States to share these things so that people who are travelling here know about them,” he said.

However, he cautioned that despite the green signal to travel the southern part of Cebu, citizens should remain vigilant.

Senior Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo, chief of CPPO, said Cebu province is considered to be under level 2 security threat, which means that “threat is moderate or intent is present, capability not monitored and that a terrorist attack is possible but not likely.”

“Of course, everyone should be vigilant, as the police pointed out the Cebu province is under level two of security alert. And that means there is a potential always for something to happen, so everyone should be alert...(even if) the situation has quite changed from last year when we’re giving specific instructions to our citizens,” Brown said.

For his part, Okubo was grateful for the lifting of the advisory.

“We are glad na lifted na so the tourism industry will prosper. Nakita naman ng consul sa briefing na Cebu is generally safe compared to neighboring provinces,” Okubo said.

During the security briefing, Okubo pointed that the total crime volume in Cebu last year decreased to 15,881 from 18,135 in 2016.

Okubo added there are ongoing efforts to enforce security in the whole province, through constant coordination with security counterparts every month called Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Conference (JPSCC), which discusses intelligence mining against potential threats and preventive measures.

Brown said they rely heavily on the police forces to keep the 10,000 American citizens in Cebu safe.

He also noted that he was grateful for the police for keeping citizens safe despite records of some behaving badly.

“I want to reiterate our gratitude for keeping our citizens safe despite them behaving badly.

Thanks to the police for keeping our citizens safe,” Brown said.

Brown was invited to the provincial headquarters for the latest security briefing. He also received a police badge as a token of gratitude, and in turn, he gave two wrapped presents and pins of the Philippine flag to Okubo.

“We are so lucky to be invited. It’s so nice of you giving the time and hospitality that is very typical Filipino hospitality,” he said.

The US has a consulate in Cebu which has been operating since 1996. (FREEMAN)