THE Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the United Kingdom issued a travel warning Sunday, January 27, against all travel to western and central Mindanao, as well as south of Cebu. According to its website, the advisory was released due to reports of terrorism. "The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao (excluding Camiguin, Dinagat and Siargao Islands) and to the south of Cebu province, up to and including the municipalities of Dalaguete and Badian, due to the threat of terrorism," the advisory said. The advisory mentioned the bomb attack of a Roman Catholic church, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu, Sunday, January 27, that resulted in at least 20 deaths. It also made mention of the possible increase of election-related violence leading up toward the May 2019 elections. (MCB)