A cloud of debris is seen as Philippine Air Force fighter jets bomb suspected positions of Muslim militants as fighting continues in Marawi city, southern Philippines in this June 9 photo.
/Inquirer file photo
Western governments are warning their citizens against travelling to nearly all of the southern third of the Philippines, citing the rising threats of terror attacks and kidnappings by Islamist militants.
Fresh alerts from Britain, Canada and Australia were released this week after President Rodrigo Duterte extended military rule across the southern region of Mindanao until the end of the year to combat the militants.
The Canadian advisory on Monday warned against visiting any part of Mindanao except for Davao, the biggest city in the south.
“There is a serious risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings in this region,” the Canadian government said.
It also cautioned that people should only visit Davao, where the bombing of a crowded night market last year claimed 15 lives, if it was essential.
Mindanao comprises roughly a third of the Philippine territory and is home to 20 million people.
The region has endured decades of conflict, with Muslim separatists and communists waging deadly rebellions, and a small group of Islamic militants known as the Abu Sayyaf running a lucrative kidnap-for-ransom operation from there.
Western governments have long advised against travelling to parts of Mindanao, but the fresh alerts are more extensive as they warn against visiting almost the whole region.
The new advisories reflect growing concerns that the Islamic State group’s influence is rising in Mindanao.