Manila: The presidential palace yesterday shrugged off travel warnings issued by the UK, saying it will have little effect on the country's tourism.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said warnings advising Commonwealth citizens against travelling to the southern Philippines were normal in the aftermath of the abduction of two Europeans in Tawi-Tawi.
Valte said the palace understood the UK's concern for the safety of its citizens.
"The UK travel advisory is meant as an advice to its own citizens here," said Valte.
The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) issued an advisory warning about the possibility of kidnap following the abduction in Tawi-Tawi's Panglima Sugala.
Abducted
Dutch national Ewold Horn, 52 and Lorenzo Vinciguerre, 47, from Switzerland, were abducted by five gunmen while taking photographs of rare bird species.
According to police, the foreigners were seized at gunpoint while aboard a motor boat.
A third victim, 35-year-old Filipino photographer Ivan Sarenas, was released to police.
