Malacañang on Monday warned foreigners to “avoid places where danger lurks” after a British national was kidnapped in Zamboanga del Sur.
“They should always take care of themselves. Avoid places where danger lurks,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters in a press briefing.
His warning came after two resort owners were abducted by unidentified armed men in Tukuran town, Zamboanga del Sur on Friday evening.
Allan Hyrons, 70, and his wife Wilma Hyrons, had just arrived on a van at Hyrons Beach Resort when four armed men approached them and held them at gunpoint.
Authorities believe the victims were brought to the adjacent area of Lanao del Norte.
The Zamboanga Peninsula regional police are coordinating with the military and authorities in Lanao del Norte to track down the suspects and rescue the victims.
An initial investigation revealed that two of the suspects had checked in at the resort a day before the abduction.
Panelo said the Palace is not worried that the incident happened despite the imposition of martial law in Mindanao.
“Sometimes, that happens even if there’s martial law. Those are isolated cases. You cannot avoid it,” he told Palace reporters.
“The PNP there and the Army can take care of that place,” he said.