Newsgroup: it.hobby.viaggi
Titolo: Filippine Avviso di sicurezza

 
SUMMARY
We strongly advise against all travel to Southern and Western Mindanao
and against all holiday and other non-essential travel to other parts
of Mindanao and Palawan until further notice. 
There has been a significant increase in kidnappings in Manila and
throughout The Philippines, including in popular resorts. There is a
threat from random bombings, including a reported specific threat to
bomb public places in Metro Manila. Bombs were found in the Makati
business district of Manila on 19 March and another device was found
in Quezon City, Metro Manila on 20 March 2002. In the latest outrage
two bombs exploded on 22 April in General Santos City in Mindanao
killing fourteen. In April 2002 a German couple's hire car was stopped
in the mountain provinces of Luzon and the occupants were held for
five days while money was extorted. 
British nationals should remain vigilant throughout the Philippines,
including heightened security awareness against the threat of
kidnapping in Manila, and exercise caution when considering travel to
any coastal resorts. There has also been an increase in criminal gangs
offering drinks, confectionery or perfumes laced with drugs to
unsuspecting foreigners, making them drowsy or unconscious, in order
to rob them. In June, one victim died from such a drugging. 
SAFETY AND SECURITY
tourists  should heighten their security awareness throughout the
Philippines. Sensible precautions include arranging to be met at the
airport or using hotel transfer services; using a driver or taxis from
reputable sources such as a hotel rank; and avoiding walking in the
city at night. Even well lit and busy city areas cannot be assumed to
be safe. 
Avoid travel off the beaten track and leave travel plans with friends
or relatives. 
Beware of strangers offering drinks or confectionery as these may be
laced with substances that cause drowsiness or unconsciousness. The
victim is then robbed. In an incident in June, one such individual, a
Korean diplomat, died as a result of the drugging. The gang
responsible for the death has been apprehended but there are still
many others thought to be operating throughout the country and in
Metro Manila. Locally they are known as Ativan gangs, named after one
of the drugs used. 
There have been attacks of piracy and armed robbery against ships in
and around Philippine waters. Mariners are advised to take appropriate
precautions. 
Visitors who take part in water sports and scuba diving in the
Philippines should be aware that rescue services are not always as
comprehensive as they might be in the UK. 
In June 2001 a group of American visitors were fired upon by an armed
group on the slopes of Mount Pinatubo in central Luzon. 
LOCAL TRAVEL
We strongly advise against all travel to Southern and Western Mindanao
including the provinces of Maguidanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte,
Sultan Kudarat and North and South Cotabato, which have seen clashes
between the Army and insurgents. Two Chinese citizens who were
kidnapped in north Cotabato were killed on 19 August 2001. An Irish
priest resident in Lanao del Sur was murdered in an attempted kidnap
on 28 August 2001. Foreigners have been targeted in the southern
Zamboanga peninsula (provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga
del Sur, and Zamboanga City) and islands south west of Mindanao (the
provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi Tawi) by kidnap-for-ransom gangs.
Bombings have also been more frequent in these areas, and it is
particularly important not to visit them. We also strongly advise
against all holiday and other non-essential travel to Mindanao and
Palawan. 
Kidnapping 
On 22 May 2001, a heavily armed gang attacked a popular beach resort
in Davao (Mindanao) in an attempt to take foreigners hostage. Another
attack took place on Palawan Island on 27 May 2001, where 20 hostages,
including 3 Americans, were taken from a beach resort: one was killed
and the other two are still being held. 21 people including foreign
tourists were kidnapped from a diving resort in Sabah, Malaysia in
2000 and taken to Jolo Island where most were held for months. British
nationals should remain vigilant and exercise great caution when
considering travel to any coastal resorts in the Philippines. Kidnap
gangs have used extreme violence against some victims and are
increasingly targeting business figures and visitors throughout the
Philippines, including Metro Manila and the business/entertainment
district of Makati. Three British nationals were kidnapped in 2001 and
held for periods up to three weeks. Another foreign national, who was
reported as being British, was taken at gunpoint from his home in Tawi
Tawi in September 2001, but escaped from his captors the same evening.
Some British nationals have also recently been the subject of
extortion attempts where the threat of kidnap has been used.
Heightened security awareness is essential. 
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Visitors should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession
of even very small quantities can lead to imprisonment or even a death
sentence. 
Philippine laws regarding paedophile activity are severe, and are
strictly enforced. The death penalty is often passed in rape cases.
Visitors should be aware that cases of entrapment have occurred where
strangers with children have befriended single male visitors.
Allegations have then been made that the child was abused in an
attempt to extort money. In Philippine anti-child abuse laws, a child
is defined as a person under 18 years of age. 
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Entry to the Philippines may be refused and airlines may not carry
passengers holding passports with less than six months validity.
Overstaying without the proper authority is a serious matter and
visitors can be held in detention or refused permission to leave the
country until a fine is paid. 
Parents of minors travelling unaccompanied to the Philippines must
ensure that they file an 'affidavit of support' (parental permission
to travel) either at the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines or
at the nearest Philippines Embassy to where they are resident. 
HEALTH
Medical treatment can be very expensive. It is essential that
travellers take out full insurance cover for medical treatment and
accidents. 
Malaria, including malarial encephalitis, exists in parts of the
Philippines and visitors should seek medical advice before travelling.
The dengue fever mosquito is found throughout the Philippines
including Manila. Rabies is endemic and can be fatal if not diagnosed
and treated quickly. 
GENERAL
It is a requirement for foreigners to be able to show some identity if
requested by, for example, the police. It is permissible to carry
photocopies of the relevant pages of passports to avoid losing the
original, which should be kept in a safe place. 
It is advisable to have insurance cover for unexpected losses such as
cancelled flights, stolen cash, cards, passport or luggage. 
All travellers leaving the country by way of Manila’s international
airport must pay a Peso 550 departure tax. 
NATURAL DISASTERS
Typhoons strike the Philippines during the rainy season usually
between July and December and flooding may occur. In November 2001 a
typhoon raged through the Vizcayan Islands leaving 300 dead or
missing, and 150 injured. Inter-island travel by small boats can also
be dangerous as storms appear quickly. The Philippines is in an
earthquake zone and there are more than 200 volcanoes, most of which
are extinct. But there was a major eruption on 24 June 2001, of Mount
Mayon near Legazpi City (southern Luzon) causing thousands to flee
from the lava. Mount Kanlaon near Bacolod City is also currently
active. 
TERRORISM
Two bombs exploded in a shopping centre in General Santos City in
South Cotabato Province in Mindanao on 22 April killing fourteen and
injuring more than fifty; callers purporting to be the Abu Savvaf
group of terrorists have claimed responsibility. 
On 19 and 20 March, explosive devices were defused in Manila,
including the business district of Makati. A little-known indigenous
Muslim group has claimed responsibility. 
An explosive device was also defused in Makati, near the British
Embassy on 21 December 2001. On 28 October 2001 a bomb was detonated
in a fast food establishment in Zamboanga City killing at least 5
Filipinos and injuring many more. 4 Filipinos were injured in a cinema
bombing in Zamboanga City on 15 February. There have been several bomb
attacks in Jolo, Sulu Province. 
Grenades were thrown into Manila shopping malls on 29 April and 6 May
2001, causing many injuries. This follows several incidents the
previous year in which unidentified bombers planted bombs that
exploded in Metro Manila without warning, on a train, a bus and the
airport. Twenty-two people died and many were injured. While these
bombs were not aimed at British nationals, they were unpredictable and
indiscriminate. Visitors should therefore exercise increased vigilance
in public places. 
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--
Emanuela da casa
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