Security in the Philippines

One can’t blame a westerner for being a bit concerned about his or her safety when traveling to the Philippines: 

* The Philippines has gained a reputation as the “Kidnapping Capital of Asia” in recent years, with kidnap-for-ransom establishing itself as a popular and lucrative business for the Philippine underworld. 

* There are numerous insurgent groups in the islands, like the New Peoples Army (NPA) and the Abu Sayyaf, who not only kidnap, but also assassinate those they don’t like – and they don’t like Americans or other westerners very much.

 

* Gun battles between government forces and Muslim separatists are commonplace in the southern Philippines, and it’s not unusual for the civilian populace to get trapped in the middle of the gunfights.

* Malls and stores are often bombed throughout the islands, killing mostly innocent bystanders.  The police are often corrupt.

* Transitions from one government to another are usually chaotic and rarely democratic (of the last five presidents, only Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada were elected into office; Ferdinand Marcos maintained power through martial law, Cory Aquino took power during the EDSA I revolution, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took power after the EDSA II revolution).

* Typhoons, volcanoes, mudslides, and earthquakes regularly punish the islands.

* The bus and jeepney drivers apparently have a death wish, and don’t seem to mind that they’ll be taken their passengers with them when they go.   

So, when all these perils are considered, is it safe to travel to the Philippines?  

Surprisingly, the answer is “yes”.  And that’s not just my opinion.  The U.S. Consulate points out on its website that, “The security situation has improved in most areas of the country in recent years. Most of the country is hospitable to travel.” 

But you must play it smart, and take certain precautions.  Here are my suggestions. 

1.  Read that latest Travel Advisory from the U.S. State Department.  This can be found online at http://travel.state.gov/philippines_announce.html.  Many folks will argue that the State Department is overly cautious in advising Americans against travel in certain areas, like Zamboanga City, reasoning that if they visited a locale and returned safely, anybody can.  But many environments are fluid and complex, so it behooves you to at least read the advisory, and to consider what it has to say, even if you ultimately elect to discount certain warnings.   

2.  Read the latest Consular Information Sheet at http://travel.state.gov/philippines.html. This sheet offers a broader overview of the current situation in the Philippines, and fleshes out the curt warnings offered by the Travel Advisory mentioned above. 

3.  Whenever possible, have a Filipino (whom you know and trust) escort you around the country.  This greatly decreases the chance of you becoming a target for local criminals, who prefer to prey on solitary foreign tourists.  A Filipino escort will also insure that you avoid high-crime areas, and can protect you from con artists and the like.   

4.  Don’t make yourself a target by flashing large sums of money around, dressing expensively, or flaunting your national pride in an obnoxious fashion.  It’s great, for example, that you’re “proud to be an American”, but is it really necessary to wear a white T-Shirt with an American flag on it that proclaims, “Kill ‘em all and let God sort ‘em out”?  Nope. 

5.  Avoid discussing politics with locals. 

6.  Never gamble with locals. Winning or losing $20 is probably nothing to you, but a poverty-stricken Filipino might consider it a life and death matter.  Aside from the money, there’s the complication of pride, which is devastatingly important to Filipinos.  Humiliating a Filipino you don’t know is a good way to get into a fight.  Fights in the Philippines are not fun and games.  Ever seen a butterfly knife? 

7.  Don’t use public transportation when it’s dark or in foul weather if you can easily avoid doing so.  Filipino bus, taxi, jeepney and trike drivers are incredibly undisciplined and their vehicles are often in ill repair, as are the roads they ride upon.  Utilizing public transportation is a necessary risk for most travelers, but traveling at night or in bad weather will increase that risk.    

8.  Don’t argue with the police.  You left the Bill of Rights back home, buddy.  When dealing with local law enforcement, be courteous and agreeable.  Say as little as possible and smile a lot.  Be a friend.  And if your friend, the policemen, needs a permanent loan, well, hey, what are friends for, right?  But never offer money up front.  If you manage to put yourself into this unfortunate situation, allow the officer to hint at what’s required to remedy the situation, and only then discuss the “fine” required.  This is, by the way, one of those situations where you really would benefit from having a Filipino escort with you! 

9. … 

(End of book excerpt – if you’d like the entire text, please consider ordering The ASAWA Guide to Fil-West Relationships.  Thank you!)