THE British Government issued a travel advisory on Wednesday, May 24, urging its nationals to avoid all travel to western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago in the Philippines due to clashes between military and the Maute terror group.
"The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) continue to advise against all travel to western Mindanao including Marawi City; and against all but essential travel to eastern Mindanao," the United Kingdom (UK) said in its government website.
It added that the FCO also advise against all but essential travel to the south of Cebu province, up to and including municipalities of Dalaguete and Badian due to threat of terrorism.
"If you are in Marawi City, you should remain indoors, monitor media reporting, and follow the advice of the Philippine authorities," the UK said.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao Tuesday night, May 23, after a clash erupted between government forces and members of Maute group in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, in a press conference in Moscow, Russia, announced that the Chief Executive called him to disseminate to the public his decision to declare martial law in the entire region.
“The President has called me and asked me to announce that as of 10 p.m., Manila time, he has already declared martial law to the entire island of Mindanao,” Abella said.
Abella said the declaration of the autocrat rule will last for 60 days.
Duterte earlier warned to declare Martial law if the situation in Mindanao exacerbates.
Abella had said the authoritarian rule in Mindanao is possible, “on the grounds of the existence of rebellion in Mindanao.”
The President, in a video interview posted by Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Marguax “Mocha” Uson on Facebook, said the martial law in Mindanao will not be different from the one-man rule during the time of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, stressing he will be harsh in dealing with the terrorists.
"Martial law is martial law. So to my countrymen, you have experienced martial law. Ito, it would not be any different from what the President Marcos did. I’d be harsh," Duterte said.
Duterte added he had cut short his trip in order to return to the Philippines. He departed Moscow, Russia, early Wednesday morning to return to Manila.
The President's declaration of martial law was strongly protested and questioned by militant groups, saying it would not resolve the conflict but merely create more problems and lead to violations of people's rights.
They urged Duterte to immediately lift the Martial Law declaration considering that the military has declared that the situation in Marawi City is "under control."
The military said the firefight, which resulted in two soldiers and one policeman killed and 12 others injured, ensued after the military swooped down on the apartment occupied by Isnilon Hapilon, a former Abu Sayyaf leader who is now allegedly the representative of the terror group Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (Isis) in the Philippines.
Hapilon and his followers allegedly rendezvoused with members of the Maute group, who engaged the soldiers and police in a gun fight.
Following the clash, Davao City has been placed under red alert and on lockdown.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday dawn, May 24, said they will put more security forces on the ground and on the coastal areas, aside from the extensive and thorough search of vehicles and personalities.
The Davao mayor advised the public not to visit the city yet to avoid the hassle of checkpoints, which will be more extensive and thorough search of vehicles and personalities.
Aside from Davao City, the city of Cagayan de Oro has been placed on full alert, with heightened security measures that include the setting up of more checkpoints in the entry and exit points of the city and its neighboring areas. (Jo Ann Sablad/SunStar Philippines)
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