From GMANews (Oct 5): Australia warns nationals in PHL of abduction threat

In an Oct. 5 update to its travel advice, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade cited a "warning" supposedly from the Philippine government last October 3. "(O)n 3 October 2012, the Philippines government warned that an armed group may be planning to abduct foreign nationals, including workers of international non-government organizations undertaking field visits and other humanitarian activities, in some areas of Maguindanao and Cotabato provinces," it said. "We continue to strongly advise you not to travel to central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu Archipelago, due to the very high threat of terrorist attack, kidnapping, violent crime and violent clashes between armed groups," it added. It also reiterated its advice to Australian nationals in the Philippines to "reconsider your need to travel to eastern Mindanao...."

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/277047/news/nation/australia-warns-nationals-in-phl-of-abduction-threat