US warns Americans vs travel to S. Mindanao

The nited States embassy yesterday issued an emergency message arning their citi ens against traveling to Southern indanao follo ing a series of security threats coming from extremists and insurgents

“ n particular, the embassy is a are of threats in several locales in egion the Davao egion , egion orth and South otabato, Sultan udarat, and Sarangani , and in aguindanao, the travel advisory said

The travel advisory came in the midst of the recent spate of bombings in the cities of agayan de ro, otabato ity and the t in blasts that hit t o shopping malls in Davao ity

“As a result, the embassy has placed restrictions on all S government travel to these areas The embassy advises all S citi ens residing in southern indanao to exercise extreme caution and re-evaluate their personal safety situation, the S government said

The emergency message posted on the S embassy ebsite said that individuals associated ith no n extremist and insurgent groups are believed to have been conducting surveillance on a number of public locations in these areas, as possible targets of interest

American officials also pointed out that extremists might use conventional or non-conventional eapons, and target both official and private interests, including high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of orship, schools, public areas, and other destinations, hether fre uented by foreigners or locals

alaca ang do nplayed yesterday the latest travel advisory of the S

“ don t thin there s any effect e al ays have maintained that the travel advisory is really intended for the citi ens as a protection for them, presidential spo esman d in acierda said

The government understands other foreign governments ho issue travel arning to their citi ens for purposes of protecting them and putting them out of harm s ay herever they are in the orld