Philippines
Still current at: 29 December 2011
Updated: 21 December 2011
No restrictions in this travel advice
Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country Avoid all but essential travel to whole country Avoid all travel to part(s) of country Avoid all travel to whole country
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Travel Summary (floods on Mindanao Island). The overall level of the advice has not changed; we advise against all travel to specific areas of the Philippines and against all but essential travel to other specific areas of the Philippines.
Safety and security
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Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out these attacks at anytime and anywhere in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Such places could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, places of worship etc. On 25 January an explosion on a passenger bus in the Makati district of Manila killed five people and injured 13.
We advise against all travel to south west Mindanao covering the following areas, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM, including the islands of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) plus the eastern provinces of Sarangani, North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay. We advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao because of ongoing terrorist activity. There have been a number of attacks against civilian targets. The most recent was on 5 August 2010 at Zamboanga airport where an explosion killed two people and injured 24 others including a British national. See the Safety and Security - Local Travel section of this Travel Advice.
Be aware of the risk of terrorist attacks to all forms of public transport: road, rail, sea and air. Terrorist groups have threatened to attack passenger ferries and other vessels, particularly those operating from Mindanao.
There is also a threat from kidnapping in the Philippines particularly in the southern Philippines. Kidnapping could occur anywhere, including on coastal and island resorts and on dive boats and sites in the Sulu Sea. Foreigners have been targeted in rural, urban and coastal areas in the past. On 5 December 2011, an Australian citizen was kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay. On 12 July two US citizens and a Philippine national were kidnapped from a resort on the island of Tictabon near the southern port city of Zamboanga. You should be aware that it is the long-standing policy of the British Government not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.
The Philippine government is taking action against the terrorist and kidnapping threat. It has tightened security in Metro Manila and other areas considered at high risk, including airports and seaports.
See our Terrorism Abroad page. You should also check the Embassy website: Philippines: British Embassy Manila.
Safety and Security - Crime
There is a high incidence of violent crime, including gun crime, in the Philippines. British nationals have been recent victims, but there is no evidence that they are specifically targeted.
Criminal gangs sometimes use terrorist tactics, such as kidnapping and explosions. Explosions attributed to criminal organisations have caused fatalities.
There is a high incidence of street crime and robberies, which often increases during the holiday season. Sensible precautions include: arranging to be met at the airport or using hotel transfer services; using a driver or taxis from a reputable source and avoiding displays of cash or jewellery. Even well lit and busy city areas cannot be assumed to be safe. You should beware of strangers offering drinks or confectionery; criminals intent on robbery may lace these to render the victim unconscious.
There is a threat from kidnapping for ransom in Philippines. You should be particularly vigilant when travelling on public transport. Armed hold-ups have occurred on jeepneys and buses in the Philippines, and have in some cases resulted in fatalities. The roadworthiness of some of these vehicles is also a concern.
On 23 August 2010, an armed man hijacked a tourist bus in Manila. During the incident eight hostages were killed.
I'll take that with a grain of salt. That was the exact area we covered when I was there. Yes, you cannot legally carry a firearm, but OTT, I'd rate it as about as dangerous as Cleveland. I never had an issue with the people in the islands along the Sulu Highway. Of course, that was back in 2004-'05. Things have a tendency to change over the years, many times for the worse.