Citing terror threat, UK renews advice vs travel to parts of Mindanao

From ABS-CBN (Dec 10): Citing terror threat, UK renews advice vs travel to parts of Mindanao

The United Kingdom on Monday (Manila time) advised its nationals anew against traveling to parts of Mindanao due to the threat of terrorism there. In its Dec. 9 travel advice, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised against all travel to southwest Mindanao, and non-essential travel to specific areas in Mindanao. "There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Such places could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, places of worship etc.," it said.  The UK particularly advised against "all travel" in:

• Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (includes Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi);
• Sarangani;
• North and South Cotabato;
• Sultan Kudarat;
• Lanao del Norte;
• Zamboanga del Sur; and
• Zamboanga Sibugay.

It advised against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao "because of ongoing terrorist activity," citing a number of attacks against civilian targets. "Since November 2011 there have been at least ten bombing incidents in North Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sulu, Sultan Kudarat, and Zamboanga killing a total of eight people and leaving 66 others wounded," it noted. Also, the UK cited ongoing terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups.

Meanwhile, the UK cited a threat from kidnapping in the Philippines, particularly in the south. "Kidnapping could occur anywhere, including on coastal and island resorts and dive boats and sites in the Sulu Sea," it said. Some 104,000 British tourists visited the Philippines in 2011, the UK FCO noted, citing figures from the Philippine Department of Tourism.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/285765/news/nation/citing-terror-threat-uk-renews-advice-vs-travel-to-parts-of-mindanao