Duterte issues Zamboanga travel warning

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte has warned tourists against visiting Zamboanga amid the security threat posed by the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

Duterte made the remark Tuesday night during the 7th Union Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Pasay City as he lamented how foreigners were abducted and decapitated in the area by the notorious group.

“There is a certain place which I would not recommend to anybody to go there, not just as yet — is Zamboanga,” Duterte said.

He, however, did not specify what part of parts of the Zamboanga peninsula must be avoided.

“Some Europeans go there for a bird-watching. And they are captured, and eventually, they are decapitated even after the payment of ransom. It’s the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) actually. It used to be the Abu Sayyaf — it’s a band of brigands but now it’s an Abu Sayyaf territory,” he added.

Duterte, again, denounced Abu Sayyaf Group: “Do nothing but kill and destroy.”

Earlier this month, Duterte declared that ISIS would “never gain a foothold” in the Philippines as he promised to continue the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program. /gsg

READ: Duterte: ISIS will never gain a foothold anywhere in PH