Travel advisories on Mindanao downplayed

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has downplayed the issuance of travel advisories on Mindanao by foreign countries, saying these were not needed and that incidents of explosions in some areas allegedly perpetuated by terrorists were merely isolated cases.

In a statement, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año made the assurance in response to the advice of the United Kingdom for its citizens not to travel to Western and Central Mindanao and Sulu “because of terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups.”

“Yes, there is no need to issue such travel advisory. It is not right to generalize the existence of threat in the whole of Mindanao. We admit the existence of terror groups and CPP/NPA/NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines/ New People’s Army/National Democratic Front), but they are isolated in certain areas of Mindanao,” Año said.

Año also noted the National Intel Community was already issuing periodic advisory on the peace situation in the region.

The DILG chief also assured the government was doing everything to keep Mindanao and other parts of the country safe.

“Under martial law, the local government units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) are doing their best to ensure the protection and safety of all tourists and constituents,” Año said.

Año added the military and police were intensifying operations in the affected areas of Mindanao, including Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga City and Isabela City in Basilan province, which are in Western Mindanao..

Central Mindanao includes the provinces of Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat, as well as Cotabato City and General Santos City.

In May 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao in May 2017 following the five-month Marawi City siege committed by the terrorist Maute group and its cohorts.

Martial law was further extended and will expire at the end of this year after Congress approved the President’s request.

However, at least five explosions rocked Mindanao in the last five months including the New Year's Eve blast in a mall entrance in Cotabato City killing two people and injured 45 others.

The other four explosions occurred in Lamitan in Basilan, Isulan in Sultan Kudarat and General Santos in a five month period in 2018 claiming the lives of some 14 people and injuring at least 77 others.