UK warns of heightened terror threat, reiterates caution on travel to parts of Mindanao

From GMA News (Nov 1): UK warns of heightened terror threat, reiterates caution on travel to parts of Mindanao

The United Kingdom over the weekend reiterated its advice to its nationals in the Philippines against travel to some parts of Mindanao as it warned of a heightened threat of terrorist attack "globally."

In an Oct. 31 update to its travel advice on the Philippines, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintained its advice against travel to southwest Mindanao and Sulu.

FCO cited "ongoing terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups" in these areas.

"The FCO advise(s) against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao for the same reasons," it added.

Earlier, the FCO warned terrorist groups "continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out attacks at anytime and anywhere in the country."

It listed the "terrorist groups operating in the Philippines that continue to pose a threat" as:

- New People’s Army (NPA)
- Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
- Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)

"Although there is hope that the 2013 framework peace agreement will bring the 40 year insurgency in the south of the country to an end, extreme elements within the two main insurgent groups, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), continue to pose a security threat. A splinter group of the MILF, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), has been responsible for a number of attacks on the Philippine military and security services over the last year," it added.

Around 122,759 British nationals visited the Philippines in 2013. Most visits are trouble-free.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/386174/news/nation/uk-warns-of-heightened-terror-threat-reiterates-caution-on-travel-to-parts-of-mindanao