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The U.S. government has advised its citizens against traveling to Zamboanga in southern Philippines due to a "credible threat" of terrorist kidnapping for ransom plot against foreigners.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Manila called on all American citizens residing in or planning to travel to the Zamboanga area "to re-evaluate their personal safety situation and consider postponing travel to this area at this time. "
"The U.S. Embassy wishes to alert U.S. citizens that a credible threat of a terrorist kidnapping-for-ransom plot against foreigners has been identified in the Zamboanga area on the island of Mindanao," the embassy said.
The U.S. government personnel based in Zamboanga have been directed to relocate to a secure area.
U.S. government employees planning to travel to Zamboanga have also been directed to defer their travel at this time.
The Embassy also asked American citizens to "remain vigilant and maintain an appropriate level of personal security in all circumstances by reviewing your personal safety plans; remaining aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitoring local news sources for updates."
Around 400,000 American citizens are living and working in the Philippines.
The U.S. government has long expressed concern about the presence of terrorist groups in the Philippines specifically the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group and the Jemaah Islamiyah in Mindanao.
It has warned its citizens in the past from traveling to the country and other parts of Mindanao and to avoid public areas like ship and bus terminals, places of worships and shopping malls, wherein some of it were bombed and targeted by attacks.
