Rufus Rodriguez riled by US travel advisory

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez —File photo from his Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines —A Mindanao lawmaker on Sunday called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon the United States envoy to Manila to explain a travel advisory that warned Americans visiting the Philippines of supposedly increased risk to their safety.

Reelected Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also urged President Marcos to ask the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and the Department of Tourism what they have done since the US State Department issued the travel advisory on May 8.

According to Rodriguez: “This is an unfair, shotgun warning. There are certainly many places in our country that are safe to tourists. The United States should review this advisory. We do not deserve this unfair treatment from our No. 1 ally.”

The senior lawmaker asserted that the warning places the country in a bad light before the international community, saying, “it discourages not only Americans but other foreign tourists as well from visiting the Philippines. It will surely hurt our tourism sector.”

“It is likewise particularly biased against our beloved island, Mindanao,” he stressed.

The May 8 US State Department travel advisory places the Philippines under “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” and advises, “exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.”

It states: “Do not travel to the Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest.”

The advisory further said, “reconsider travel to other areas of Mindanao due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.”

While the entire Philippines was categorized under Level 2, Mindanao (except Davao City, Davao del Norte, Siargao Island, and Dinagat Islands) was placed under Level 3, which meant “Reconsider Travel.”

Marawi City and Sulu, including the Sulu Sea, were under Level 4 or “Do Not Travel” as Americans were warned: “The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in these areas.”

The May 8 issuance also advised US government employees working in the Philippines to “obtain special authorization to travel to certain areas of the country” in Mindanao, particularly in the Sulu archipelago and the Sulu sea, as well as in Marawi City, due to the risks.

It said, “Terrorist and armed groups in the Sulu archipelago and the Sulu Sea have historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom on land and at sea, in addition to bombings and other attacks. These incidents often target foreign nationals, including US citizens, local government entities, and security personnel.”

For Marawi City, the US State Department issued a statement: “Civilians face the risk of death or injury from ongoing clashes between terrorist group remnants and Philippine security forces.” /cb/abc