A Philippine lawmaker, Rufus Rodriguez, has criticized the U.S. government for its updated travel advisory for the Philippines, calling it ‘unfair’ coming from ‘our number one ally.’ The advisory, issued on May 8, warns of risks such as kidnappings, bombings, and violent crimes, particularly in regions like the Sulu Archipelago and Mindanao.
Rodriguez, who represents the second district of Cagayan de Oro, a city in northern Mindanao, called on his government’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson to demand answers over the advisory. He also called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ask the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez and the Philippine Department of Tourism to explain what they have done since the U.S. State Department’s warning on May 8. Rodriguez argued that the warning places the country in a bad light for the international community.