France issues travel advisory on PHL Xmas crimes

France has issued another travel advisory for the Philippines this week, warning its nationals of rising criminality during the holiday season. The advisory comes barely a month after France warned of possible terrorist attacks on the Philippines. In its new travel advisory, France said that "general crime and kidnappings" are expected to rise throughout the Philippines, particularly during this period. "General crime and kidnappings are rising each year throughout the Philippines at the approaching holiday season and during this period," read an English translation of the travel advisory update last Tuesday. Previously, on November 2, France issued a travel advisory warning of possible terrorist attacks on the Philippines. At least five other countries —the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada — issued similar advisories. However, the Philippine government had questioned the basis of the advisories. In its latest advisory, France cited the Nov. 14 robbery of a jewelry shop in a mall in Parañaque City where the robbers lobbed a grenade at pursuers, wounding at least five people. The robbery prompted Metro Manila police to intensify security for the Christmas shopping season. "Risk of violence exists throughout the territory of the Philippines, particularly in public places," the French advisory noted. France's travel advisory also called for general hygiene for travelers who seek to protect themselves from microbial infections including avian flu. It advised its nationals to avoid eating raw food or undercooked food, especially meat and eggs; and to wash their hands regularly with soap and water or an aqueous-alcoholic solution. It is advisable to carry them in a luggage, the advisory added. The advisory also maintained that extremist groups, including armed group Abu Sayyaf, remain active in western Mindanao and in Basilan, Sulu archipelago and Tawi-Tawi. "Criminal groups also engage in kidnapping and extortion in the area. These movements and groups are also likely to act far from their bases throughout the country," it said. The advisory "strongly discouraged" travel in Basilan and the Sulu Archipelago (islands of Jolo and Tawi-Tawi) and in Western Mindanao: Zamboanga Peninsula (the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay), Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao (including the new Sheriff Kabunsuan province), Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato (except the city of General Santos), Sarangani. - TJD, GMANews.TV