DND on Zamboanga travel warning: Duterte looking out for tourists’ safety

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s travel warning in Zamboanga was only meant as his “way of looking out for the safety of tourists visiting the Philippines.”

Duterte on Tuesday warned tourists against visiting the Zamboanga due to supposed security threats there like the Abu Sayyaf and ISIS-linked militants.

“Some Europeans go there for 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 said.

READ: Duterte issues Zamboanga travel warning

Lorenzana said that security forces are always on the alert to prevent and respond to incidents, it is better for everyone to take personal measures to ensure their security.

“We also encourage the public to work closely with the authorities to make our communities safer for everyone,” he said. /je