Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 4) — There are no new terror threats in the country, the government said as Australia reiterated its travel advisory for the Philippines.
“We verified with Australian officials and the advisory is not a response to any specific threat,” Malacañang said in a statement on Saturday.
The Palace added it’s generally safe to work, study, do business, and travel in the Philippines.
Speaking to CNN Philippines on Friday, Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Restituto Padilla clarified Australia had merely rephrased its advisory issued at the beginning of the Marawi siege in May because it was too “wordy.”
He said the Australian government may update the advisory again next week, following the end of combat operations against the ISIS-inspired Maute group in Marawi on October 23.
In a post on its “Smartraveller” website on Friday, the Australian government told possible visitors to exercise a “high degree of caution” in the Philippines due to the threat of terrorist attacks and high crime levels throughout the country.
“There is a high threat of terrorist attack in the Philippines, including Manila,” the advisory said. “Exercise a high degree of caution in the Philippines overall. Higher levels apply in some parts of the country.”
But the Australian government also noted, “The level of our advice has not changed.” It last issued a similar advisory in July.
Padilla said the military and police have not seen any emerging threats, especially as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit approaches.
“Everything seems to be normal and this monitoring will continue on throughout the event,” he told CNN Philippines.
Travel advisories normal
Malacañang said there are no changes to the travel warnings issued by other countries when the Marawi crisis began.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has coordinated with other embassies and there is no change in travel advisories on the Philippines issued by other countries,” the Palace said.
Department of National Defense Public Affairs Service Chief Arsenio Andolong also said it is “normal procedure” for governments to issue advisories given the string of terrorist attacks abroad.
Last October 24, the United Kingdom also updated its advisory urging travelers to research before visiting rural areas of the Philippines.
It said militant groups operated in these sites, and warned armed clashes between government and militants can occur “any time without warning.”
It also warned against all travel to Western and Central Mindanao, including Sulu. It advised against “all but essential” travel to the rest of Mindanao, except Camiguin, Dinagat, and Siargao.
The Australia advisory likewise tells travelers not to go to Western and Central Mindanao, where government troops recently defeated Maute terrorists in Marawi City.
It warns citizens to reconsider the need to travel to Eastern Mindanao due to “very high” levels of violent crime, and the threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.
