Camiguin, Dinagat, and Siargao excluded in UK travel warning

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The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago in the Philippines, except the islands of Camiguin, Dinagat, and Siargao.

This advisory is due to the persistent threat of terrorism and ongoing clashes between the military and insurgent groups in the southern Philippines.

The FCDO emphasizes that terrorist attacks occur frequently in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.

While Filipino security forces are the primary targets, groups operating in these regions have pledged allegiance to Daesh (ISIS) and have targeted religious groups in the past. The FCDO warns that these groups may also consider Westerners, including British nationals, as potential targets.

Several terrorist and militant groups operate in the Philippines, including the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Islamic State Philippines (IS-Philippines), and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The FCDO highlights that these groups have the intent to carry out attacks throughout the Philippines, including in Manila. These attacks could be indiscriminate and occur in places frequented by foreign nationals, such as shopping malls, entertainment venues, public transport, airports, metro systems, and places of worship.

The ASG has historically posed a significant threat, having kidnapped several Westerners, including British nationals, in the 2010s, with incidents as recent as 2019. British nationals, including tourists, humanitarian aid workers, journalists, and business travelers, are considered potential targets. The UK government maintains its long-standing policy of not making substantive concessions to hostage-takers, as paying ransoms or releasing prisoners is believed to strengthen terrorist groups and finance their activities.

Recent significant incidents underscore the ongoing threat:

  • December 2023: An explosion during a Catholic mass in Marawi, South Lanao Province, resulted in four deaths and several injuries.
  • August 2020: Dual explosions on Jolo Island, Sulu Province, caused numerous deaths and injuries.
  • 2019: A dual suicide attack on a military base in Indanan, Sulu Province, killed six people (three civilians and three military personnel) along with the two attackers, and injured 22 others.
  • 2019: Bomb attacks at a Roman Catholic cathedral on Jolo Island, Sulu Province, resulted in 27 deaths and numerous injuries.

The FCDO also warns of the threat of kidnapping by terrorist groups operating in the Philippines. Foreign nationals may be targeted in rural, urban, and coastal areas. British nationals are strongly advised to heed this travel advice and exercise extreme caution if traveling in the Philippines.

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