Headlines

More travel warnings vs Philippines over terror, kidnap threat

Louis Bacani - The Philippine Star

May 30, 2013 | 6:12pm

MANILA, Philippines - Three more countries have issued travel warnings against the Philippines due to alleged terror and kidnapping threats in Mindanao.

The United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada warned their nationals against going to the Zamboanga region, following a similar advisory earlier issued by the United States.

Canada advised its nationals to exercise a high degree of caution due to an ongoing terrorist threat to Westerners and Western interests.

It advised against all travel to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zamboanga del Sur, Sarangani, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur, North and South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat, due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.

The British and Australian governments also warned its nationals against the same crimes.

"There is a threat from kidnapping, particularly in the southern Philippines. Kidnapping could occur anywhere, including on coastal and island resorts and on dive boats and sites in the Sulu Sea. Foreigners have been targeted in rural, urban and coastal areas in the past," said the British government.

It noted that in February 2012, two foreign nationals were kidnapped from Parangan in the township of Panglima Sugala in the Tawi Tawi island province.

"Terrorist attacks could occur at anytime, anywhere in the Philippines, including in Manila. We continue to receive credible reports indicating terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets in a variety of locations, including places frequented by foreigners. You should avoid places known to be terrorist targets," the Australian government also said.

On Wednesday, the US Embassy in Manila issued an emergency message to Americans in the country to avoid the Zamboanga area due to a "credible threat" of a kidnapping-for-ransom plot against foreigners.

MalacaÃ±ang said it respects the prerogative of any country to issue travel advisories on their citizens but assured foreign nationals of their safety while in the country.

"We respect the prerogative of any country to issue any precautionary measures that they feel that their citizens must take while here in our country," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Wednesday

"Prerogative naman po nila â€˜yon at naiintindihan natin â€˜yon. In fact, kahit po sa atin, pagdating doon sa mga citizens natin na nasa ibang bansa, nirerespeto rin naman po nila â€˜yung ating prerogative na mag-issue ng mga ganitong paalala or ganitong mga warnings sa ating mga kababayan doon," she added.