UK renews warning vs travel to parts of Mindanao due to ‘terrorism’

The United Kingdom on Tuesday renewed its warning to its nationals against travel to parts of Mindanao, following what it called the kidnapping of two foreigners off Sulu Sea.

In a May 13 update to its travel advice on the Philippines, the UK government said "two foreign nationals (were) kidnapped from a yacht in the Sulu Sea."

"In April 2014, two foreign nationals were kidnapped while yachting in the Sulu Sea. In February 2012, two foreign nationals were kidnapped from Parangan in the township of Panglima Sugala in the Tawi Tawi island province," it said.

The UK government placed the incident in its "terrorism" section.

Australia issued a similar warning earlier this week, citing the disappearance of two German nationals.

A May 7 report on Free Malaysia Today had quoted the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command as saying two Germans "on their way back to Sabah" after island-hopping in Mindanao had gone missing in the high seas.

The report said the two Germans were on board a yacht in the high seas between Palawan in the Philippines and Sabah.

It said the disappearance raised fears that they were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.

Armed Forces (AFP) Western Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda was quoted in the report as saying the two were identified as Stefan Victor Okonek, 71, and Herike Diesen, 55.

Travel

On the other hand, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised "against all travel to south-west Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of on-going terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups."

Also, it advised against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao "for the same reasons."

The UK maintained its long-standing policy is "not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers."

"The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking," it said.

Meanwhile, the UK said there is a high threat from terrorism throughout the country.

"Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out attacks at anytime and anywhere in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreigners like airports, shopping malls, public transport and places of worship," it said.

Around 122,759 British nationals visited the Philippines in 2013, the UK said, adding most visits are trouble-free. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News