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UK travel warning: 'Kidnapping can occur anywhere in the PHL'


The abduction of two Europeans and their Filipino guide in Tawi-Tawi Wednesday has prompted the United Kingdom to advise its nationals against traveling to parts of Mindanao.
 
In its travel advice for the Philippines updated Feb. 1, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office cited a "threat from kidnapping in the Philippines, particularly in the south."
 
"Kidnapping could occur anywhere, including on coastal and island resorts and dive boats and sites in the Sulu Sea. On 1 February, two foreign nationals were kidnapped from Parangan in the township of Panglima Sugala in the Tawi Tawi island province," it said.  
UK’s travel warning details parts of Mindanao where travel is discouraged. Photo from FCO.gov.uk
It also noted that on Dec. 5 last year, an Australian citizen was kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay.
 
Foreigners have been targeted in rural, urban and coastal areas in the past, it added.
 
The FCO reminded UK nationals the UK government does not make "substantive concessions" to kidnappers.
 
"You should be aware that it is the long-standing policy of the British Government not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increase the risk of further hostage taking," it said.
 
The FCO also noted a high threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines.
 
It reiterated as well that terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out these attacks at anytime and anywhere in the country.
 
"Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers," it said. Abduction
Last Wednesday, police said gunmen seized a Dutch and a Swiss tourist who had just finished a 14-day bird watching trip.
 
Police identified the kidnap victims as Elwold Horn, 52, of Holland; and Lorenzo Vinciguerra, 47, of Switzerland.
 
Ivan Sarenas, a Filipino guide, was also kidnapped but later jumped off the boat and swam to safety, while a second guide had escaped earlier and reported the crime to authorities, regional police chief Felicisimo Khu said.
 
Khu said the Philippine Navy mounted a naval blockade of the island to prevent them escaping to nearby Sulu.  
Advice vs travel
 
The FCO advised against all travel to southwest Mindanao covering the following areas:
 
  • Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi)
  • Sarangani
  • North and South Cotabato
  • Sultan Kudarat
  • Lanao del Norte
  • Zamboanga del Sur
  • Zamboanga Sibugay.
 
"We advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao because of ongoing terrorist activity. There have been a number of attacks against civilian targets," it added.
 
Over 130,000 British tourists visited the Philippines in 2011, the FCO noted. Most visits are trouble-free, it added. — RSJ/HS, GMA News
Tags: abduction, tawitawi
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