UK need not worry — execs

Irrelevant Joma Communist Party of the Philippines chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison got a beating from Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who said he is nothing but an “armchair” general. YUMMIE DINGDING

Foreign nations can ease up on their advisories on travel in the country since the government is on top of the security situation after the bombing incident in Cotabato City on New Year’s Eve, security officials said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana brushed off the travel advisory of the United Kingdom to its citizens as he noted there was nothing unusual over its move.

Lorenzana maintained there are no similar threats in the future.

“We don’t have indications that there will be other bombings,” he said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año added the recent incidents of explosions and presence of terror groups are isolated cases.

“Yes, there is no need to issue such travel advisory,” said Año in the statement. “It is not right to generalize the existence of threat in the whole of Mindanao. We admit the existence of terror groups and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front, but they are isolated in certain areas of Mindanao.”

The British government advised its citizens not to travel to western and central Mindanao, as well as Sulu, “because of terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups.”

The advisory came following the explosion at a shopping mall in Cotabato City on 31 December 2018 that killed two persons and injured several others. The bombing attack came while Mindanao is currently under martial law.

“The British advisory is an automatic and default warning of governments to their nationals like we also do when these things happen in other countries. It is normal and ordinary. We hear about these advisories all the time,” Lorenzana said.

Security authorities, at the same time, vowed to do their best to thwart any attempt by “spoilers” and terror groups to disrupt peace.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., nonetheless, said the military is not taking any advisory lightly as he ordered troops to work harder in maintaining peace.

“The AFP and PNP (Philippine National Police) are doing everything to prevent peace spoilers and terror groups to undertake their criminal activities,” Madrigal said.

“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 added.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. branded the UK move as “fair warning.”

Madrigal also maintained that it is the prerogative of the UK government to issue such an advisory to all its citizens.

“That is their prerogative, to look after the welfare of their nationals. On our part, we are enhancing the security measures to prevent similar incidents,” Madrigal said.

The AFP chief of staff urged the public to closely coordinate with security authorities in their areas to ensure public safety and security.

“Our people should also be vigilant and report to security sector any suspicious acts of persons that they notice… As we say, security is everybody’s concern,” Madrigal said.