AFP steps up security in Mindanao after UK advisory

MANILA, Philippines — The military is doubling its efforts to help maintain peace and order in Mindanao following the issuance of a travel warning by the United Kingdom.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said the military is taking the travel advisory seriously. The travel warning was issued two days after Monday's Cotabato City bombing that killed two people and injured 34 others.

In its advisory, UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office urged its citizens against traveling to Western and Central Mindanao as well as to the Sulu archipelago “because of terrorist activity and clashes between the military insurgent groups.”

Madrigal said that with the advisory, the AFP should be more alert. “We advise our troops to double their efforts to prevent these violent incidents from happening so that we can encourage foreign investments and tourism in Mindanao,” he told reporters yesterday.

Madrigal noted that it is the prerogative of the UK to issue such advisories to protect its citizens.

Together with the Philippine National Police (PNP), the AFP, he said, is “doing everything to prevent peace spoilers and terror groups to undertake their criminal activities.” 

Madrigal said the PNP is leading the investigation of the Cotabato City blast.

While the incident was considered an isolated case, Madrigal stressed “our people should also be vigilant and report to security sector any suspicious acts of persons that they would notice,” stressing that “security is everybody’s concern.”

In contrast to Madrigal’s seriousness, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is downplaying the travel advisory, saying it is based on presumption the entire region is dangerous for travelers.

“It is not right to generalize the existence of threat in the whole of Mindanao,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a text message.

While threats from communist insurgents and other lawless groups exist, he said rebels do not have control over the whole of Mindanao. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Jaime Laude, Pia Lee-Brago