The Australian government has warned its nationals against traveling to some parts of Mindanao during the holidays due possible heightened threat.
“Recent bombings and kidnappings in Zamboanga demonstrate a heightened-threat environment in that area over the Christmas/New Year period. Possible targets include locations where people gather, which may include hotels, shopping centers, restaurants and educational and government facilities in and around Zamboanga City,” Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in an update to its travel advisory.
It strongly advised Australian nationals not to travel to central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu Archipelago “due to the very high threat of terrorist attack, kidnapping, violent crime and violent clashes between armed groups.
“Australians should leave these areas immediately,” it said.
It noted that while peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are ongoing, intermittent clashes could occur.
“Armed clashes between rival clans and other armed groups occur frequently in central and western Mindanao, often resulting in multiple deaths and injuries and the displacement of local populations,” it added.
Travelers were also advised to “reconsider” their need to travel in eastern Mindanao, including the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, due to the very high levels of violent crime in these areas.
The Australian government added that terrorist attacks could occur anytime, anywhere in the Philippines, including Manila, so it advised its nationals to “exercise a high degree of caution” in the Philippines in general.
It stressed that it continued to receive credible reports indicating terrorists were planning attacks against a range of targets in a variety of locations, including places frequented by foreigners.
“You should avoid places known to be terrorist targets. There is a danger of kidnapping throughout the Philippines, particularly in the southern Philippines, including coastal and island tourist resorts, dive sites, and live-aboard dive boats in remote locations in the Sulu Sea,” it advised its nationals.
“If you decide to travel to an area where there is a particular threat of kidnapping, you should ensure you have personal security measures in place, seek professional security advice and take out kidnapping insurance,” it added.
It cited the kidnapping of an Australian citizen in Zamboanga Sibugay last Dec. 5.
Last July 12, two US citizens and their Filipino relative were kidnapped from an island near Zamboanga City.
“Other kidnappings have been reported in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu archipelago in 2011 involving Philippine nationals and citizens of Korea, Malaysia and India,” it added.