US warns against travel to Sulu

The United States on Monday (US time) renewed its warning to its nationals against travel to the Sulu area, citing recent violence in southern Philippines and the recent kidnappings of foreigners in Malaysia-controlled Sabah.

 

In a May 19 update to its Philippines travel warning, the US State Department warned US citizens of the "risks of travel to the Philippines, in particular to the Sulu Archipelago, the island of Mindanao, and in the southern Sulu Sea area."

 

"US citizens should continue to defer non-essential travel to the Sulu Archipelago, due to the high threat of kidnapping of international travelers and violence linked to insurgency and terrorism there," it said.

 

"Over the past nine months, there have been kidnappings and attempted kidnappings of foreigners in the Eastern Sabah province of Malaysia and in the southern Sulu Sea area by terrorist or insurgent groups based in the Sulu Archipelago of the Philippines," it added.

 

It said US citizens should "exercise extreme caution if considering travel in the southern Sulu Sea region between Balabac Island and Palawan, in the Philippines; Sabah, Malaysia; and east to Zamboanga City, Mindanao, in the Philippines."

 

The State Department particularly cited the "high threat of kidnapping of international travelers and violence linked to insurgency and terrorism there."

 

Last April 2, gunmen abducted a Filipina resort worker and a Chinese tourist from a floating resort in Sabah. On May 6, gunmen abducted a Chinese from a fish farm in Lahad Datu.

 

In both cases, authorities suspect the involvement of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.

 

The US State Department pointed out the US Embassy has imposed a "strict restriction on all but the most essential travel to Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago."

 

"Embassy employees must receive special authorization from Embassy security officials to travel to any location in Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, including urban centers," it said.

 

Germans' abduction

 

Last May 14, the United Kingdom renewed its warning to its nationals to avoid travel to parts of Mindanao, following what it called the abduction of two foreigners off 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.

 

Australia issued a similar warning, 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.

 

Extreme caution

 

The State Department said U.S. citizens should continue to exercise extreme caution if traveling to Mindanao.

 

In 2013, it said "separatist and terrorist groups" intensified their activities and encounters with Philippine security forces.

 

Also, it cited "increased bombings, attacks on civilians and political leaders, and battles with security forces."

 

The State Department noted that in September 2013, followers of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari tried to occupy parts of Zamboanga City.

 

On the other hand, a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, remain active in Cotabato City and in Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

 

Terrorist threat

 

The State Department also remains concerned about what it called the "continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against US citizens and interests throughout the world."

 

It encouraged US citizens in the Philippines to enroll with the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program or at the US Embassy in Manila. — Joel Locsin/ NB, GMA News