US travel warning stays — Mussomeli

The United States will not change its travel advisory on the Philippines despite a "positive" development in the three-day consultative meeting organized by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao.

US embassy chargé d’affaires Joseph Mussomeli said even if the MILF forum that concluded yesterday is successful, it will not be a basis for changing the travel advisory, the latest of which was issued last March.

"I don’t think it should have any effect positive or negative," he said.

"The point of a travel advisory is simply to inform all Americans what the possible dangers might be. We’re very comfortable here. But people need to know there’s a risk of danger whenever they go to certain places."

In its travel advisory, the US warned Americans in the Philippines of possible terrorist attacks.

The US has revised its public announcement for Americans based on reports of Philippine authorities that it was bracing for possible terrorist reprisal from the Abu Sayyaf.

Americans are discouraged from traveling to Central, Southern and Western Mindanao, and the Sulu archipelago, including Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo, where military-police operations against terrorist and rebels are continuing, and where kidnappings and bombings have taken place.

The advisory said there continue to be threats against Western and Philippine interests, and that there is a danger of being caught in a terrorist attack. — Pia Lee-Brago