Mindanao remains a safe place to visit, Malacañang assured the public yesterday, following the recent travel alerts issued by United Kingdom and Australia.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said they understand the intention of the foreign governments
to look after their citizens but assured that the bombing incident in Cotabato City was an isolated one.
“It’s natural for any foreign government, or any government for that matter, to be concerned about the welfare, the safety of their citizens, and we cannot blame them if they have such views following the bombing in Cotabato but that’s an isolated case,” he said.
“Insofar as the National Defense Secretary is concerned, it is very safe to travel in Mindanao,” he added.
Australia recently advised citizens against traveling to Central and Western Mindanao due to threats of terrorist activity and kidnapping.
The United Kingdom had earlier issued a similar travel warning against Mindanao, citing terrorists were likely to carry out attacks in the Philippines.
The travel warnings from the two western nations were issued following the explosion in a mall in Cotabato City last Dec. 31 that left two people dead and dozens injured.
Malacanang has extended sympathies to the families of the victims and vowed to “get to the bottom of this at the soonest possible time.” (Genalyn D. Kabiling)