The US and UK are advising their citizens to avoid a region in the southern Philippines out of concern about Muslim kidnappers. The criminals are believed to have already abducted 18 Malaysian and Indonesian members of boat crews.
Yesterday (Thursday), the US State Department put out an advisory against non-essential travel to the Sulu Archipelago, noting "the high threat of kidnapping of international travelers, increased threat of maritime kidnappings against small boats ... and violence linked to insurgency and terrorism there."
The British Foreign Ministry released a similar warning on Wednesday.