ARMED Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. on Wednesday said the AFP would have to double its defense against terrorist activities in Mindanao, following a deadly bombing of a Cotabato City shopping mall on New Year’s Eve.

“We advise our troops to double their efforts to prevent these violent incidents from happening so that we can encourage foreign investments and tourism in Mindanao,” Madrigal said in reaction to the United Kingdom’s (UK) issuance of an advisory warning its citizens against traveling to southern Philippines.