The Latest: Clashes with Abu Sayyaf raise tourism concerns

Philippine military chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano, center, gestures beside Philippine Navy Vice Adm. Narciso Vingson, left, and Philippine National Police Deputy Director for Administration Ramon Apolinario during a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, the military headquarters in Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines, Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Philippine troops battling militants in a central province killed a key Abu Sayyaf commander who had been blamed for the beheadings of two Canadians and a German hostage and was apparently attempting another kidnapping mission, Ano said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Philippine military chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano, center, gestures beside Philippine Navy Vice Adm. Narciso Vingson, left, and Philippine National Police Deputy Director for Administration Ramon Apolinario during a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, the military headquarters in Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines, Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Philippine troops battling militants in a central province killed a key Abu Sayyaf commander who had been blamed for the beheadings of two Canadians and a German hostage and was apparently attempting another kidnapping mission, Ano said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

By Associated Press April 12, 2017 3 min read

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – The Latest on clashes between Philippine forces and suspected militants (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

Clashes between Philippine troops and suspected Abu Sayyaf militants have raised concerns about tourism in the central province where the fighting is occurring.

Jaypee Orcullo, an officer of the Department of Tourism in Bohol province, says some tourists canceled hotel reservations. He estimated around 10 percent may have canceled their online booking.

But he said the situation is normal at the white sand beaches of Bohol’s Panglao island that are frequented by tourists, and the province’s capital Tagbilaran. The site of the fighting that started Tuesday is an isolated area a three-hour road ride away from Panglao, and about two hours away from Tagbilaran.