PHL is safe, Palace assures tourists amid advisories, Bohol clash

Malacañang on Thursday assured that the Philippines is a safe place for tourists after a number of countries issued travel advisories against visiting the country before and after an Abu Sayyaf attack in Inabanga, Bohol. 

“Yes. Definitely [Philippines is safe],” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a briefing.

“Of course, the advisories come from outside. These are not within our control. On the other hand, we are responding to that. And as far as we can, as far as we have, we have done our due diligence regarding the matter,” he added.

Abella noted that the ASEAN meeting in Bohol went ahead just days after the government troops and the bandits clashed in Inabanga on April 11. 

“The administration and the military is looking after the security in the area, in the region,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte attended a security briefing in Bohol on Wednesday and announced a P1-million bounty for every Abu Sayyaf suspect in the province. The military said five members are still at large.

Abella believes that the Philippines would still reach its tourism targets despite the travel advisories because of the threat. 

“On the whole, the tourist interest in the Philippines continues to surge. So, it will all even up,” he added. —JST, GMA News