PHL eyes guidelines in issuing travel warnings

With President Benigno Aquino III himself saying the travel warnings against the Philippines by at least five countries have no adequate basis, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said it will ask foreign embassies to be more careful in issuing such advisories for their citizens. DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya said the department is drafting a circular to all foreign embassies asking them to be extra cautious in issuing travel advisories on the Philippines. Malaya said the while the travel advisories issued by the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom were intended to secure their citizens in the country, he maintained these warnings "did not reflect the (volatile) security situation of the Philippines." "It is to the best interest of everybody that these governments review and update their respective travel advisories to be able to reflect the accurate security situation of the Philippines which remains safe and stable," he said. DFA undersecretary for administrative and finance Rafael Seguis ordered the drafting of a circular that will state that foreign embassies will have to follow "certain guidelines and procedures" in issuing travel advisories against the Philippines. Malaya said the circular will be issued soon. The US, along with the four other countries, issued separate travel warnings about potential terror threats in the Philippines, particularly in parts of Mindanao and even in Manila, followed by a foiled terror attack on the US. Last week, US authorities uncovered two parcels of bombs ready for detonation in two US-bound planes from Dubai and London. Recent reports show the threats, which reportedly originated from Yemen, targeted top European leaders after another parcel containing bombs reached the office of German chancellor Angela Merkel, but was detonated before it could cause harm. Amid warnings of terrorist attacks, the Armed Forces of the Philippines downgraded on Thursday its alert levels except in Metro Manila, which remains on red alert. Also on Thursday, Aquino said the government "will express its displeasure" over the travel advisories issued by the five foreign governments. "We will also convey certain questions, things like were these officially conveyed to us, being an ally? There are certain implications that we're also studying but we will express our displeasure that we believe there is no adequate basis," Aquino told reporters. - KBK, GMANews.TV