Australians warned vs traveling to some parts of Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — The Australian government has cautioned its citizens to “exercise a high degree of caution” when traveling to parts of Mindanao due to ongoing risk of kidnapping, terrorist attack, as well as crime and violent clashes there.

In its latest travel advisory updated on Wednesday, the Australian government said “reconsider your need to travel to eastern Mindanao due to the very high levels of violent crime and the high threat of terrorist attack and kidnapping.”

“Do not travel to central and western Mindanao due to the very high threat of kidnapping, terrorist attack, violent crime and violent clashes between armed groups,” it added.

There is an ongoing risk of #kidnapping in the southern #Philippines, especially along the #Zamboanga peninsula, in the Sulu Archipelago and in coastal waters between Philippines and Sabah, Malaysia. https://t.co/Eh0yNgTCa3

— Smartraveller (@Smartraveller) June 5, 2019

The Australian government’s updated advisory comes less than a week after a long-held Dutch hostage was killed in Sulu by his Abu Sayyaf captors.

READ: Dutch hostage, 6 Abus killed in clash

Ewold Horn was shot dead while he tried to escape during a fierce firefight between Abu Sayyaf and Army troops, a military official said.

“There is a very high threat of kidnapping in the southern Philippines, especially along the Zamboanga peninsula and in the Sulu Archipelago,”  the advisory further said.

“Tourists in southern Palawan, southern Negros or Siquijor could also be targeted,” it added.

The Australian government, meanwhile, advised its citizens to “be alert to possible threats around locations that have a low level of protective security and places that could be terrorist targets” due a “high threat’ of terrorist attack in the Philippines, including Manila.

“Possible targets include commercial and public places frequented by foreigners,” it added. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)