MANILA, (PNA) –- The United States has detected additional security threats in Southern Mindanao as certain individuals associated with known extremist or insurgent groups may be planning attacks in several areas, a U.S. embassy notice said on Thursday.
American travellers, including US government employees, were discouraged from travelling to the area amid the security threat, which came on the eve of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s two-day visit in Manila to meet with Philippine officials.
“The U.S. Embassy wishes to alert U.S. citizens that a series of credible security threats have been identified in southern Mindanao,” it said in an emergency message for U.S. citizens that was posted on the embassy’s website Oct. 10.
“In particular, the embassy is aware of threats in several locales in Region 11 (the Davao Region), Region 12 (North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani), and in Maguindanao. Individuals associated with known extremists and insurgent groups are believed to have been conducting surveillance on a number of public locations in these areas, as possible targets of interest,” the advisory said.
Extremists, it warned, “may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target both official and private interests.”
Examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and other destinations, whether frequented by foreigners or locals, the embassy said.
“As a result, the embassy has placed restrictions on all US government travel to these areas,” it said. “The embassy advises all U.S. citizens residing in southern Mindanao to exercise extreme caution and re-evaluate their personal safety situation.”
“The embassy strongly reiterates its recommendation that U.S. citizens exercise extreme caution when travelling to Mindanao and keep personal safety and security in mind during any stay in Mindanao.”
An estimated 400,000 American citizens, which would include naturalized citizens of Filipino origin, are living and working in the Philippines.
Washington has long expressed concern about the presence of terrorist groups in the Philippines, specifically the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group and the Jemaah Islamiyah in Mindanao.