ShareThisMANILA (PhilAmPress) – The United States will keep its travel warning against the Philippines for as long as terrorists’ activities like bombings and kidnappings of Americans continue in the country, particularly in Mindanao.
This was learned US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas, Jr. even as he lauded the “good job” the Philippines was doing in its fight against terror.
“The Philippine government is doing a good job in fighting terrorism a decade after the tragic “9/11” terror attacks by Islamic extremists in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001,” Thomas Jr. said.
Thomas stressed the US will not lift its travel warning on the Philippines “as long as bombs explode in the Zamboanga airport, as long as kidnap-for-ransom gangs dominate the headlines, as long as bus owners are extorted through violence, and as long as political feuds are resolved through bombs and assassinations.”
But once the travel warning is lifted, this may result to the return of the US Peace Corps in Mindanao, he said.
Thomas cited in particular the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines which, under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III, have been making significant headway in its quest to stem terrorist threats in the country.
Thomas said he has recommended to the US State Department the lifting of the travel ban to Mindanao.
Thomas made the announcement during the opening of the 20th Mindanao Business Conference in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur last week.
“I’m quite content. It’s a robust effort… As long as we remain vigilant, as long as you are doing everything you can to keep people safe, then you’re doing a good job,” Thomas said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government welcomed Thomas’ remarks.
“We appreciate those remarks and certainly it is a recognition of our efforts to fight not just terrorism (but) human trafficking as evidenced by the removal of the Philippines from the watch list and its subsequent upgrade in status,” she said.
The US travel warning was directed at Americans who could fall prey to kidnap-for-ransom and terrorist groups, following the July 12 abduction of US nationals Gerfa Lunsmann and her son, Kevin Eric, 14, in Zamboanga City.