Panelo said if there is no martial law in Mindanao, things could be more different. #Philippinetravel #martiallaw

Travel to the Philippines is safe for foreigners despite the recent kidnapping of a British and Filipina couple in Zamboanga del Sur in view of the martial law in Mindanao, according to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

“Oo naman, siyempre safe. Kaya lang accidents happen, kung minsan nalulusutan ka rin (Of course, its safe. Unfortunately accidents happen, sometimes there are slip ups),” Panelo said in a press briefing in Malacañang referring to the abduction of Briton Allan Hyron and his Filipina wife, Wilma, from their resort in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur last October 4.

Panelo said if there is no martial law in Mindanao, things could be more different.

“You can just imagine kung walang (if there is no) martial law, baka hindi lang iyon (maybe not just that). But just the same, the authorities are doing their level best to protect the inhabitants there,” he said.

“Given na two years na iyong martial law doon at mukhang iyong number of crimes eh halos wala, maliban dito sa bago ngayon – ibig sabihin effective (Given that martial law has been enforced there for two years and the number of crimes is almost gone, aside from this new one – it means its effective),” Panelo added.

When asked if there are any recommendation from ground forces to extend martial law, Panelo said: “Wala pa akong naririnig (I haven’t heard) from the ground forces.”

President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on 23 May 2017 in the wake of the Marawi City siege by pro-ISIS militants.

The Chief Executive previously stated that he is open to extending martial law in Mindanao for a fourth time if local officials would recommend it.