MANILA, Philippines — The abduction of a British national and his Filipino wife in Zamboanga del Sur can still happen despite Mindanao being under martial law since “isolated cases” as such cannot always be avoided, Malacañang said Monday.

“Well, sometimes that happens even if there’s martial law. Isolated cases na ganyan, minsan di mo rin maiwasan yan. Otherwise marami na sanang ganyang insidente,” Palace Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing when sought for comment on the incident.

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(Well sometimes that happens even if there’s martial law. Isolated cases as such sometimes can’t be avoided. Otherwise, there should have been more incidents like this.)

British national Allan Arthur Hyrons, 70, and his Filipino wife Wilma Paglinawan Hyrons were reportedly taken by four armed men last Friday at their beach resort in Zamboanga del Sur.

“There is only one incident lang naman eh. The PNP [Philippine National Police] there and the army can take care of that place,” Panelo said.

Panelo also advised tourists who plan to go to Zamboanga del Sur to “take care of themselves” and “avoid places where danger lurks.”

Meanwhile, Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor Yu has offered a P1-million bounty to anyone who could provide information on the location and identity of the couple’s abductors.

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