COTABATO CITY — Three Turkish nationals were held for questioning in Mangudadatu town in Maguindanao on Saturday.
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, head of the 33rd Infantry “Makabayan” Battalion, reminded foreigners to coordinate their travel in conflict areas to avoid causing alarm in communities.
The Turkish visitors, said Cabunoc, were apprehended for entering a village in Mangudadatu with the local government and security forces unaware of their visit.
Authorities quickly tried to locate the Turks after community leaders from the village of Paitan reported their presence, the military said.
Cabunoc said the villagers were worried the foreigners were Islamic State agents.
The Turkish visitors were apparently members of a humanitarian group distributing food to villagers for Eid al-Adha. —Karlos Manlupig