Palace: Travel to Mindanao ‘very safe’ despite UK, Australia advisories
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday claimed that travel to Mindanao is “very safe” amid the issuance of travel warnings by the governments of United Kingdom and Australia.
The British and Australian governments advised their citizens to avoid travels to central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Sulu archipelago and the southern Sulu Sea area.
The travel advisories were updated in the wake of a New Year’s Eve blast in a mall in Cotabato City that left two people dead and at least 30 others injured.
While he said that it is natural for foreign governments to be concerned about the safety of their citizens, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the bombing was an “isolated case.”
“So far as the national defense secretary is concerned, it’s very safe to travel to Mindanao,” Panelo told reporters in a press briefing.
In an earlier statement, presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr. also said the bombing was an isolated case and must not be treated as something that could affect the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front of the Philippines.
RELATED: Duterte cites ongoing rebellion in bid to extend Mindanao martial law
Martial law remains in place in Mindanao until the end of 2019. Duterte, who requested the extension, and Congress, which approved it, said martial law is needed to quell the security concerns posed by terrorists and communist groups.
The blast happened weeks before the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which will be held on January 21 and February 6.
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