Palace says tourists safe, it’s still more fun in the Philippines

Inquirer.net September 04,2016 - 10:40 PM

ANDANAR

ANDANAR


US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Singapore issue travel advisories amid Davao bombing

As some countries issued travel advisories to their citizens after the Davao City bombing incident that killed 14 people, Malacanang yesterday assured tourists that they are safe in the country and that “it’s still more fun in the Philippines.”

“We know that it was a terrorist act done exactly to arrest our development here in the south. But, you know, it’s just one. The country has thousand … hundred islands, and you can choose from other cities and other municipalities and other spots in the Philippines where you can enjoy,” said Communications Secretary Martin Andanar over state-run Radyo ng Bayan yesterday.

Andanar said that Malacañang understands the decision of some countries to issue travel advisories to their citizens after the Davao City bombing incident.

“It’s normal for these countries to issue their travel warning because it’s their responsibility to their own citizens,” he said.

“But the AFP and the Philippine National Police, they’ve been on alert for the last few days ‘no. And life continues here in the Philippines; it’s still more fun here in the Philippines. It’s just one place in the south where it happened,” Andanar said.

The governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Singapore have issued separate travel advisories in relation to the attack.

The US warned its nationals to remain vigilant “and employ sound personal security measures” although there is no direct threat to its citizens.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said UK citizens should cancel all travel plans to Mindanao unless “essential.”

Australia said its citizens should reconsider traveling to eastern Mindanao and “not to travel to central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga peninsula and the Sulu archipelago and in the southern Sulu Sea area, due to the very high threat of kidnapping, terrorist attack, violent crime and violent clashes between armed groups.”

Singapore also advised its people to “exercise vigilance and monitor local news.”

Canada, meanwhile, told its citizens not to travel to Mindanao because of serious threats of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.

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TAGS: Australia, Canada, Martin Andanar, Philippine National Police, PNP, Singapore, UK, US

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