Skip to main contentdfsdf

Home/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ October 13, 2003, The Philippine Star, UK renews travel warning on RP, by Marvin Sy,

October 13, 2003, The Philippine Star, UK renews travel warning on RP, by Marvin Sy,

from web site

October 13, 2003, The Philippine Star, UK renews travel warning on RP, by Marvin Sy,

Britain has renewed its travel warning on the Philippines as it cited a "high general threat" from terrorism and kidnapping in the country. 

The advisory followed a similar warning from an Australian official that the Philippines is a prime target of the regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah. 

Philippine officials protested against the Australian warning and President Arroyo said security forces were prepared to deal with any threat. 

In its country advisory on the Philippines updated last Thursday, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office continued to advise against all travel to central, southern and western Mindanao, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, where it claimed that the "terrorist and kidnap threat is greatest." 

Non-essential travel to other parts of Mindanao was also discouraged and warnings were also issued on visits to tourist spots, including Metro Manila. 

The mission cited the Abu Sayyaf, the communist New People's Army, Jemaah Islamiyah and "splinter groups from Muslim separatist organizations" as the groups responsible for bombings and kidnappings. 

Although the reach of the Abu Sayyaf is mostly limited to Mindanao, the advisory claimed that Metro Manila is also targeted. 

It also cited the July 14 escape from Camp Crame of confessed Indonesian terrorist and bomb expert Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, an alleged Jemaah Islamiyah bomb expert, who remains at large. 

Although most bomb attacks were in the southern Philippines, Britons were also advised to take precautions in Manila because of a bomb explosion on a bus along EDSA in Balintawak, Quezon City on Oct. 18 last year. 

The mission, however, noted that the Philippine government was working hard to address the threat of terrorism and has stepped up measures to secure Metro Manila and other possible targets across the country. 

"But there continues to be threats against western interests and there is also a danger of collateral damage from terrorist attacks targeted at others. You should be particularly vigilant in all public places, such as airports and seaports, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, places of worship, nightclubs, bars and on public transport," according to the advisory. 

The warning also cited the July 27 failed mutiny and the current political uncertainty brought about by the heightened enmity between the Arroyo administration and the political opposition. 

"A group of rebel members of the Philippine armed forces seized an apartment and shopping complex in the Makati district of Manila in July. Although the situation was resolved peacefully the same day, the Philippine authorities remain on heightened alert in case of further political unrest," the warning added. 

Security forces across the country are on high alert because of the upcoming visit of US President George W. Bush. The Abu Sayyaf has threatened to launch attacks to embarrass the Arroyo administration. 

Earlier, police and military officials said the Abu Sayyaf were planning to stage bombings on public transports, prompting authorities to tighten security.

Would you like to comment?

Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.

stevenwarran

Saved by stevenwarran

on Dec 14, 12