France modifies travel advisory on Phl

MANILA, Philippines –  France has “modified” its travel advisory on the Philippines, citing risk of terrorist attack only in certain areas in Mindanao and not in the entire country.

The travel warning focuses on the rising crime rate in the Philippines during the holiday season, citing the robbery at a jewelry shop in a mall last Nov. 14.

Six countries recently warned of possible terror attacks in the Philippines after a supposed terror attack in the US was foiled. These are US, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and France.

France is the first country to reassess and modify their travel advisory on the Philippines. The modified advisory was conveyed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The DFA welcomed France’s reassessed advisory.

“We are glad that they periodically reassess their advisory, and the updated advisory is more reflective of the current conditions in the country,” said DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya in a text message to The STAR.

France early this month joined the five countries that issued travel advisory on the Philippines, warning their nationals against possible terror attacks in the country even as the government appealed to these countries to lift their travel warnings.

France warned its citizens of a “risk of terrorist attack” in the entire territory of the Philippines, particularly in urban areas and places frequented by foreigners.

The travel advisory said the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group remains active in Mindanao.

The Philippines strongly urged members of the United Nations Security Council to take a “balanced” approach in the international campaign against terrorism and called on governments to “exercise due care and diligence” in issuing travel advisories.

Philippine Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Carlos Sorreta issued the call in his statement during the Security Council meeting last Nov. 15 as he stressed the need to take a holistic approach in addressing terrorism.

“(Counter terrorism measures) must be comprehensive and must be addressed by a combination of hard and soft approaches,” Sorreta said.

He said that balance must also be achieved in the issuance of travel advisories, particularly those that relate to “possible terrorist attacks.”

“Travel advisories are taken very seriously. Once issued, travel issues cannot be taken back,” Sorreta said.

In one of the Philippines’ strongest statements yet on the subject, Manila said that when a travel advisory cannot distinguish between ordinary criminals and terrorists, the advisory is “a disservice to the country issuing it and the country that is subject to it.”