Aquino gov’t seeks to reassure foreigners visiting Mindanao

MANILA, Phlippines—Malacañang hopes the Italian government will eventually reconsider its travel advisory to its citizens not to travel to Mindanao as it vows to ensure the safety of foreigners in the country.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace understood and respected the decision of the Italian government to maintain its travel advisory to its citizens not to travel to Mindanao as a “red area.”

“We are taking steps to ensure the security of everyone who visits our country. And we hope that, moving forward, it can be revisited,” Valte said in an interview over state radio dzRB.

Valte also assured the public that the Philippine National Police has formed a special task force to investigate Tentorio’s murder in line with President Aquino’s vow to go after the Italian priest’s killers.

Meanwhile, she said the Palace would provide security to those needing and seeking help in response to a report that two foreign priests based in Mindanao were said to be marked for liquidation.

The Italian Embassy in Makati City last week once more advised its 1,010 nationals in the country—including 250 to 300 Catholic priests and nuns—to avoid traveling to Mindanao, which it has called a “red area” because of its peace and order problems. The embassy issued the advisory following the October 17 murder of Fr. Fausto Tentorio who was gunned down outside his parish in Arakan, North Cotabato.