Southern Philippines threats

The US Department of State continues to warn of the risks of traveling to the Sulu Archipelago, the island of Mindanao and the southern Sulu Sea area in the Philippines.

Travelers should defer nonessential travel to the Sulu Archipelago due to the high threat of being kidnapped and due to violence linked to insurgency and terrorism there. 

Across the main island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, separatist and terrorist groups have continued their violent activities, conducting bombings and kidnappings, attacking civilians and political leaders and battling Philippine security forces.