Canadian government warns against travel in southern Philippines

[TimL]

Not that this is anything new but, I see a few places on here that I haven’t seen in previous reports. 

The Canadian Government has urged against travel to parts of the southern Philippines due to a serious threat of terrorism and kidnapping.

Canadians have been urged to avoid all travel to Western and Central Mindanao and the southern Sulu Sea, including the waters south of Palawan. 
Be careful out there!!


The advice, issued today (Wednesday, May 8), says this is “due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks, kidnapping, high levels of criminality, and violent clashes between the military/police and terrorist or rebel groups”.

It also highlights the risk of piracy in the waters south of Palawan island.

The Canadian government issues “avoid all travel” advisories only when it determines that there is an, “extreme risk to your personal safety and security”. As a result, it says: “You should not travel to this country, territory or region. If you are already in the country, territory or region, you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so.”

The “avoid all travel” advisory covers the following provinces:

Basilan
Cotabato
Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Sur
Maguindanao
Misamis Occidental
North Cotabato
Sarangani
South Cotabato
Sultan Kudarat
Sulu
Tawi-Tawi
Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga Sibugay

Furthermore, the government is advising that Canadians should avoid all “non-essential travel” to Eastern Mindanao, for the same reasons given above.

However, the advisory does note that conditions in Eastern Mindanao are more stable than in Western Mindanao. “Non essential travel” means that there, “are specific safety and security concerns that could put you at risk”. As a result, tourists should determine whether they need to be in the country. If not, they should consider leaving while it is still safe to do so.

The “avoid non-essential travel” advisory covers the following provinces: 

Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Bukidnon
Camiguin
Compostela Valley
Davao del Norte
Davao del Sur
Davao Occidental
Davao Oriental
Dinagat Islands
Misamis Oriental
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur

 

 

Edited May 9, 2019 by Jollygoodfellow
Again link to that site not allowed

[Dave Hounddriver]

Looking at the blog for his source.  I see it is here

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/philippines

So if anyone wants to read the facts without the bias of the blogger then you may want to go direct to the source.

[Mike J]

Should be a little safer after they take their garbage back. 

[Jollygoodfellow]

The whole point of the matter is most know that those areas are risky but also consider if you have travel insurance as it will be void.

And all members take note. The site in the OP post link is not allowed here as that site just harvest news from other sources and passes it off as it own. So any Phil lixx style links will be removed which has been explained before. . 

[OnMyWay]

On 5/9/2019 at 11:31 AM, Dave Hounddriver said:

Looking at the blog for his source.  I see it is here

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/philippines

So if anyone wants to read the facts without the bias of the blogger then you may want to go direct to the source.

I thought Gen San was on most lists??  Maybe not.