UK, Canada also warn citizens on visiting PH
The United Kingdom and Canadian embassies on Tuesday have issued advisories, urging their citizens to be vigilant if they were to visit Philippines due to reported terrorist threats in Central Visayas.
In an updated advisory Tuesday, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office told its citizens to be wary of traveling to the region, especially Cebu and Bohol.
The warning came just as clashes between suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits and the military ensued in Bohol.
Five suspected militants, three soldiers and a policeman were reported to have been killed in a firefight in the mountain village of Napo, Inabanga town, Bohol province on Tuesday.
READ: 9 killed in clash between gov’t troops, Abu suspects in Bohol
Their advisories followed Australia’s warning issued Monday, where it advised its citizens travelling to the country to exercise a “high degree of caution,” citing “high threat of terrorist attack and the high level of crime,” taking a cue from the United States.
READ: Australia warns citizens vs terror threats, crime in PH
“On 9 April 2017, the US Embassy in Manila advised US citizens that it had received unsubstantiated yet credible information that terrorist groups may attempt to conduct kidnappings in Central Visayas, which includes both Cebu and Bohol provinces.” You should be especially vigilant in these areas,” the UK embassy in the Philippines said in a statement.
“There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the country. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out attacks at anytime and anywhere in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners like airports, shopping malls, public transport and places of worship,” it added.
It also warned citizens to remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious to the local authorities, because there has been an increase in kidnapping of foreign nationals, including attacks targeting foreigners and tourists since late 2015, it said.
READ: US Embassy warns vs travel to Central Visayas
Meanwhile, in their travel advisory, the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines advised its nationals to “maintain a high level of vigilance and personal security awareness” if they plan to visit Central Visayas, particularly the mentioned regions.
