(Eagle News)—The United Kingdom has warned its residents against traveling to parts of Mindanao due to “terrorist activity” and clashes between government troops and insurgent groups.
“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago..,” the advisory said.
The UK also warned its citizens against doing “all but essential travel” to the remainder of Mindanao, excluding the islands of Camiguin, Dinagat and Siargao, as well as to the south of Cebu province, including the municipalities of Dalaguete and Badian.
According to the UK, “terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out attacks at any time and anywhere in the country, including in places visited by foreigners, like airports, shopping malls, public transport, including the metro system, and places of worship.”
For this, it cited the Cotabato mall bombing that left at least two dead and several injured.
It said UK residents in the country should be vigilant, and cooperate with authorities.
“A ‘state of national emergency on account of lawless violence’ remains in place across the rest of the country. Expect random checkpoints, security patrols and a more visible routine security presence,” it said.
“Consular support is severely limited in parts of the Philippines where we advise against travel, and limited in the areas we advise against all but essential travel. Full consular support is available in all other areas,” it added.
