Is it safe in the Philippines?

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Chris

Currently the Philippines Military is on alert due to a recent coup. Key highway points have increased military check points. The PNP in Manila and other key cities is on "Double Red Alert". The PI is involved in a sort of quasi de facto civil war with Islamic Militants wreaking havoc. Typically its for more freedom. Its not unusual for very large fire fights in the south, that go unreported in Media. My tour of the military hospital was sad because so many Philippine Army are injured or killed in fighting in PI everyday.

Rebel and guerilla troops do not al have the same agenda. In the North, you see NPA rebels forming up to fight rich land owners. But these guys are more like thugs. In the South on Luzon the Guerillas more or less kidnap small numbers. In Mindinao this is more associated with Islamic unrest. In Jolo this has been a problem with Jolo wanting to be it's own country, but being unable to support itself. Plus the politicians themselves are allegedly trying to sow violence in the cities to give themselves power.

There have been increased threats by rebel and guerilla leaders to do harm. The rebel forces have the ability to, and in the past have, set up explosives at Fort Bonifacio Manila (the most heavily guarded Military Base in the Philippines), and in Ermita near UN Avenue, and the US Embassy. There was even a bombing at Manila's International Airport NAIA back in June 2000. Although airport bombings happen frequently in the south. 2000 was a really bad year because that was the year of the Rizal Day bombing on Dec 30th, 2000 was part of a five bomb string that killed 22 and injured hundreds.

Back to 2007: Travelstate.gov (the US State Deparment Consular Website for Travel warnings) was last updated in Apr 24, 2007. That warning reminded travellers that they "should carefully consider the risks to their safety and security while there, including those due to terrorism". So clearly this recent coup which was defused today did not warrant an additional warning. My interrpretation is that this coup where rebels took over a 5 star hotel in Manila is typical of the original warnings veracity, and no additional warning is necessary as this is what the warning meant. There is terrorism in Manila and your hotel may be taken over, and your body may be chopped up and filmed for TV--as we watched rebels doing this to tourists on TV here. Reports of ransom is over exaggerated as most Americans and tourists kidnapped are executed by brutal murder.

The PNP (Philippine National Police) website has not been updated since before the rebel seige, and still notes concerns on Nov 25 2007 over Typhoon 'Mina'.

The last coup I know of was July 27, 2007. The last bombing in Manila I know of was Nov 12, 2007 outside Congress/Senate which killed a Muslim lawmaker and three others. The police raided and killed the suspects on Nov 15th. This all led up to the most recent coup we just dealt with. It really wasn't much of a coup, the police tried to serve an arrest warrant at a hotel and the guys pulled out guns and called for the 'people to rise up'.

Before the Nov 15 bombing the other big recent bombing as Oct 18, 2007 at Glorietta Mall in high end Makati (where many tourists stay and visit). The bombing killed 10 Persons and injured 120. The next day Norberto Gonzales, the presidentâ€™s security adviser, said they had received an intelligence report that Abu Sayyaf was trying to raise funds abroad using the internet site YouTube and the blast could be used as part of this campaign. On a radio program Gonzalez added, "what is more ominous here is they may be planning a bigger attack."

About a month before the bombing at Glorietta was another bombing at a mall in Manila in Sep around the 24th. That killed 8 persons. However, there this may have been an industrial accident. This is rather common now, and to be honest, people just move on with their lives.

The worst terroist bombing in the Philippines, was the 2004 Super Ferry 14 bombing and sinking which killed 116 passengers on a outbound Manila Ferry.

As for me, I am American, and love to travel to the PI. I am not afraid of bombings, I think of it like the PI's versions of America's problems with violence. But the problem for some tourists to PI is that they don't want a bomb to kill them while shopping for no reason. I mean in America, you can avoid bad neighborhoods, or stay away from drugs, or gangs, and you're pretty safe. But PI, you never know if the park, or the bus, or the mall, or your hotel will be attacked.

Several US Military Policies do not allow Caucasians to travel to PI. For example Commander Naval Forces Japan refuses to allow whites to travel to PI due to the violence. Also Commander of the Marines on Okinawa has a similiar policy. I'm Military and just got out, and my Admiral said no-way! That its too dangerous in the PI.

So if it's too dangerious for a military man married to a Filipina, I guess it's too dangerous for you. But as for me, I'm going back because I like the place, I understand the violence, and accept the situation. I have my wifes family there to visit, and my children's grandparents are there to visit. I just stay away from malls, busing, airports, parks, shops, taxis, and hotels. So I stay at the family home and go to Divisorio or ride the tricycle. I believe the Philippines is a safe place despite what I have written as I could write about the violence in any American city just as well.

Now there are things that are particularly dangerous so here they are:
1. Travel to South in Mindanao like Zamboanga, Jolo, etc.
2. The National Highway at a point somewhere North of Bicol and South of Batangas.
3. Presidential elections on or about May 10 2008. Or any local election. Probably shouldn't be in PI as a foreigner at this time because things get crazy.
4. Dec 30 is Rizal day, and for some reason in 2000, there were a series of terrist bombings on this day that still scare the locals.

jerrys1960

Keep in mind that the media (anywhere on the planet) often exgarates what is happening and doesn't always tell the whole story.

I currently live on Mindanao but pass though Manila every few months.

For the most part it is as safe as any other major city. Like any major city there are some areas you want to avoid but for the most part if you donâ€™t draw attention to yourself, guard your wallet, donâ€™t try to cause trouble and use good common sense you shouldnâ€™t have many major problems.

Even traveling here on Mindanao as long as you stay away from some areas there is not much to worry about as far as safety. Even in areas people say are dangerous here I personally feel safer in those areas, than some of the locations I worked when in the states.

tamarindwalk

Not right now.

It's better to stay away or go somewhere safer.

The troubles are only beginning... Three bombings and the blasting apart of a 5 star hotel are not quite safe activities. Plus, one can usually count on being robbed right in front of the airport.

ericka

in manila, it's not so safe but in other parts of the country, safety is still felt!

nobody

Manila is not Philippines....Manila is just part of Phil. There are lots of place you can visit aside from manila.

1. CEbu
2. Palawan
3. Bohol

And more.

-daniii. DH16 :D extremeee.

No, not at all

Kojak

It is no more dangerous in the Philippines.....Manila included..... than it is anywhere else in the world including America..... maybe a little safer than some parts of Los Angeles, Detroit and New York

annabelle p

Not only in the Philippines, the same thing is happening elsewhere in the world. It's the culmination of the predictions in the bible - when everything goes wrong, not only with the people but also with nature.

Alfred

Nowhere is safe man, maybe the ground that your standing is loose, or that painting thats hangin above your head is gonna fall, the PC that your using will short and blown up and cause a fire. Dude don't be paranoid, your not gonna go to places that are dark and scary right? your not gonna ask the guy beside you if has a bomb right? and i doubt your gonna ask the bellboy if a coup will happen in the hotel that your gonna be staying in? life is given to be lived, not curl on some apartment.

Patrick

there are always problems and 'situations' wherever people go.

if you wish to travel to the philippines but wish to avoid any 'explosions' in metro manila, you could try out the sun and sand in the other islands of the philippines.

Cebu
Boracay
Davao
Baguio

when my family and I went there last August, it was all safe.

But living there will be quite different.
My Ateh got robbed last week by a bunch of filipino teenagers in the pinas.

I felt sorry for her.. She could almost got killed by a knife

Goddess of Gratitude

i have been living here for the past 33 years and i am still alive and well!

by the way, i work in ayala avenue and to get home today, i walked (along with many other people) towards the mrt station, while the military was trying to make the trillanes group surrender in nearby manila peninsula ..

sheephunter

Is it safe? Sure it's safe here...

kokey14

Yes, it is safe, because people who are non-sense and warfreak are now in jail.

Try this link, for me this is the best place in the world.
http://www.bohol.ph/

Purple Tactics

It's safe there my man!!!

Where else but in the Philippines would a shopping mall resume normal business after experiencing a casualty producing bomb blast?
And just wait... tomorrow afternoon, things will be back to normal at the Peninsula as well.

By monday, this will all be forgotten.

reas0nn

no not at all, there is people there that dont shave for weeks

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