PH safe destination for foreigners: Palace

“Oo naman, siyempre safe. Kaya lang accidents happen, kung minsan nalulusutan ka rin (Of course it’s safe. It’s just that accidents happen),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA— Malacañang on Friday assured that the Philippines is a safe destination for visiting foreigners amid the recent kidnapping of a British national and his wife in Mindanao.

“Oo naman, siyempre safe. Kaya lang accidents happen, kung minsan nalulusutan ka rin (Of course it’s safe. It’s just that accidents happen),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.

Defending the imposition of martial law in Mindanao, Panelo said there would be a high incidence of crime and kidnapping if the martial rule is not in place.

“Given na two years na iyong martial law doon at mukhang iyong number of crimes halos wala, maliban dito sa bago ngayon – ibig sabihin effective (Given that martial law has been there for two years and it seems the number of crimes there is almost none, except this recent one– that means it’s effective),” he said.

“You can just imagine kung walang martial law, baka hindi lang iyon (if there is no martial law, maybe there would be more [crimes]),” he added.

Panelo assured that authorities in Mindanao are doing their best to protect the residents there.

Allan Hyrons and his wife were abducted at their beach resort in Zamboanga del Sur last week but no group has claimed responsibility.

Zamboanga police said two of the suspects reportedly checked in at the resort, pointed a gun at them, and dragged them to the other side of the beach were motorized boats were waiting.