British embassy warning

Below is a warning from the government about travelling in the Phils especially in Mindanao where I want to visit.

The British Embassy has warned of high threat of terrorism throughout
the Philippines as it advised its subjects against all travel to
Mindanao, citing ongoing terrorist activity.

In its travel bulletin posted on its Web site, the embassy said
"ter-rorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and
the intent to carry out these attacks at any time and
anywhere in the country," citing the Nov. 22 bomb explosion in a
shopping mall in Kidapawan City and the attack on the Batasang
Pambansa building last Nov. 13 that left Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar dead
and others wounded.

"Attacks could be indiscriminate including in places frequented by
expatriates and foreign travellers," it added.
Buildings and locations frequented by expatriates and foreign
travellers could also be potential targets for terrorists, the embassy
said.

"There are frequent terrorist attacks against civilian targets
throughout Mindanao," the advisory said, adding that the threat of
kidnapping of foreigners is also very high.

"We continue to believe that terrorists and criminal elements plan to
kidnap foreign tourists from islands and coastal areas in the southern
Philippines (such as) Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. The most
recent kidnap of a foreign national occurred in June 2007. Kidnappings
from other parts of the Philippines cannot be discounted, with boats
travelling to and from offshore islands and dive sites possible
targets," the embassy said.

British subjects were also warned of the risk of terrorist attacks on
all forms of public transports such as by road, rail, sea and air.

"Terrorist groups have threatened to attack passenger ferries and
other vessels, particularly those operating from Mindanao," it pointed
out.

I know that anyone reading this will probably find this stupid of me but I will still be visiting Mindanao, the government continually put warnings out like this for many reasons.

1. That they are true.
2. To cover themselves in that they have advised UK citizens not to visit in case of any incidents.
3. Travel insurers have a get out clause.

This area of the world has had problems as mentioned above for many years, if everyone over the past 30 years did as they suggested, yes there would be less kidnappings and killings but millions of people would not have visited these areas and been perfectly safe also.

Again it's like the london bombings in the 70's, did everyone stop visiting london because of the bombs, well I'm sure that a percentage did but millions didn't. People still went to work by tube, bus and car and got on with their lives. So please don't think that in Mindanao that there is a terrorist waiting around every corner to kidnap or kill you. Yes the percentage chance of something happening to you is higher than say visiting Thailand but it is still a low risk in % terms.