Both Lanao and Cotabato City are currently listed as dangerous according to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' overseas safety information.3.This is the area where 'Travel advisory' is issued.
This is said to be because militant and extremist activity has not yet completely subsided in some areas.
By the way, the city of Ozamiz where I live is level1.'Be very careful': It is a relatively safe and stable commercial city.

Current.MILF.(Moro Islamic Liberation Front) has transitioned to autonomous government administration
after reaching a peace agreement with the government.
They are no longer engaged in armed anti-government struggle as they once did.
however,MILF.It branched off fromBIFF.(Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.) and the Islamic State (IS.) extremist groups,
They are said to still be active in the mountainous areas of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao provinces.
Therefore, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to consider there to be a security risk.

Still, most of the mountainous areas I drove through were peaceful,
and the downtown and commercial areas of Cotabato City had a generally peaceful atmosphere.
What was striking was that many of the women were wearing hijabs (Hijab.) scarves that covered their hair, necks, and ears.
Among them is the niqab (Niqab.) I also saw some people with only their eyes exposed.

But despite differences in religious beliefs, people peacefully go about their daily lives and the city functions normally.
Witnessing this scene, I felt a strong sense of 'Everyday peace' transcending religious and cultural differences.