Manila - The Philippine military on Wednesday said warnings by foreign countries against travel to the country's troubled south would help prevent more kidnappings of foreigners following the abduction of three international Red Cross staff. "The recent kidnapping incidents in Mindanao show that the perpetrators are determined to sow terror among locals and foreigners," armed forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres said.
"In this regard, the travel advisories issued by foreign countries, which warn their citizens about going to certain areas in Mindanao, are helpful and we take them positively as it manifests a preventive stance on this matter," he added.
The three International Committee of the Red Cross staffers - Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba - were abducted on January 15 on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.
They are being held by al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels, who have been blamed for some of the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines.
On January 23, a separate group of Abu Sayyaf rebels seized three Filipino teachers off Zamboanga City, 875 kilometres south of Manila, and brought them to nearby Basilan island. The kidnappers have demanded 6 million pesos (127,660 dollars) for their release.
The United States issued a travel warning against Mindanao and urged Americans to exercise "extreme caution" when travelling to the strife-torn region.
It warned that aside from security threats from terrorist groups and fighting between the military and Muslim separatist rebels, "kidnap for ransom gangs are active and have targeted foreigners" in Mindanao.
Torres appealed to foreigners to heed the warnings and coordinate with authorities in areas "prone to attacks of threat groups."
"The Armed Forces of the Philippines, in tandem with the Philippine National Police, is exerting all its efforts to help end the series of kidnappings the soonest possible time," he said.
According to military intelligence sources, Abu Sayyaf commanders Albader Parad and Akmad Jumdail were leading a group of about 30 men in holding the Red Cross hostages on Jolo island.
The sources said the kidnappers were planning to seek 5 million dollars in ransom and unknown political demands for the release of the hostages.
Authorities have declined to confirm the reports. The ICRC said it has not received a ransom demand.
In 2000, the Abu Sayyaf abducted 21 European tourists and Asian workers from a Malaysian resort island and brought them to Jolo island. The hostages were ransomed off for millions of dollars before they were freed months later.
The following year, a separate band of Abu Sayyaf rebels seized 20 Filipino vacationers and three US tourists from a western Philippine resort. Most of the hostages were later rescued or ransomed, but two of the Americans were killed.
