PHL brings travel advisory complaint to UN body

The Philippines has brought before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) its complaint against travel advisories that warned of “imminent" terrorist attacks in the country early this month. In a statement, Philippine Deputy Permanent Representative to the UNSC Carlos Sorreta called on members of the council to take a “balanced" approach in the global campaign against terrorism, and “exercise due care and diligence" in issuing travel advisories. “While the Philippines recognizes the responsibility of States to protect their citizens, we believe Governments must exercise due care and diligence in issuing travel advisories. These affect not just traveling citizens but also the lifeline and the economy of a country that is the subject of a travel advisory," Sorreta said. “Travel advisories are taken very seriously. Once issued, travel issues cannot be taken back," he added. Sorreta made the statement during the Council meeting on November 15, where he stressed that countries must take on a “holistic approach" in addressing terrorism. According to Sorreta, governments must be able to distinguish between threats posed by ordinary criminal elements and those by terrorist organizations. Strong statement In what the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) described as the Philippine Permanent Mission’s “strongest" statement on the subject, Sorreta maintained that when a travel advisory cannot distinguish threats by criminal elements and terrorist organizations, the advisory is “a disservice to the country issuing it and country that is subject to it." The Philippines was recently the subject of travel advisories from the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, France, Canada and Australia after a “cargo bomb" attempt against the United States was foiled. The Philippines has asked the six governments to explain the bases of their travel advisories, which President Benigno Aquino III said lacked adequate basis and are probably based on raw intelligence information. The Philippines has also raised the issue of travel advisories during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit last month, and the Asia Pacific economic Cooperation early this month, which were both attended by Aquino. Most appropriate venue Meanwhile, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Libran Cabactulan said it is important for the Philippines to express its position with the UNSC, especially as the body was discussing items relating to counter-terrorism. “The Security Council has the primary responsibility under the UN Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is the most appropriate venue to discuss ways forward in the collective fight against terrorism and to express concerns at how the international community is addressing terrorism, including travel advisories," Cabactulan said. The UNSC, which resolves disputes among member-states, is composed of five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. The permanent members are China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States, while the non-permanent member-countries are Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria and Uganda. - KBK, GMANews.TV