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Philippines
Travel Warning
The U.S. Department of State released
the following Travel Warning for the Philippines on February 13, 2008:
This Travel Warning updates information on the security situation and
reminds Americans of the risks of travel in the Philippines .
U.S. citizens contemplating travel to the Philippines should carefully
consider the risks to their safety and security while there, including
those due to terrorism. While travelers may encounter such threats
anywhere in the Philippines, the southern island of Mindanao and the
Sulu Archipelago are of particular concern. Travelers should exercise
extreme caution in both central and western Mindanao as well as in the
Sulu Archipelago.
Kidnap for ransom gangs operate in the Philippines. In October 2007, one
such gang abducted a visiting U.S. citizen whose whereabouts are unknown
at this time. Several other foreigners were also kidnapped for ransom in
2007. The New People’s Army (NPA), a terrorist organization, operates in
many rural areas of the Philippines, including in the northern island of
Luzon . While it has not targeted foreigners in several years, the NPA
could threaten U.S. citizens engaged in business or property management
activities, and it often demands “revolutionary taxes.”
Kidnap for ransom gangs operate in
the Philippines. In January 2007, one such gang abducted two U.S.
citizen children outside their home in Tagum City, Davao Del Norte, in
Mindanao. The New People’s Army (NPA), another terrorist organization,
operates in many rural areas of the Philippines, including in the
northern island of Luzon. While it has not targeted westerners in
several years, the NPA could threaten U.S. citizens engaged in business
or property management activities, and it often demands “revolutionary
taxes.”
For Information on How to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our Risk Managers today.
info@internationalriskmanagement.com
877-211-3654 or 559-294-0316
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Terrorist groups, such as the Abu
Sayyaf Group and the Jema’ah Islamiyah, and groups that have broken
away from the more mainstream Moro Islamic Liberation Front or Moro
National Liberation Front have carried out bombings resulting in
deaths, injuries and property damage. Recent incidents have
occurred in urbanized areas in Mindanao. On January 10, 2007,
separate bombings in the cities of Kidapawan, Cotabato and General
Santos killed seven people and injured 41. While these incidents do
not appear to have targeted Westerners or Western interests,
travelers should remain vigilant and avoid congregating in public
areas.
Many people who reside in or visit areas
that face terrorist threats, such as in Mindanao, travel with their own
security force, avoid an obvious presence, or both. In some areas of the
Philippines, especially in Mindanao, visitors should avoid travel at night
outside metropolitan areas. U.S. Government employees must seek special
permission for travel to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago. When traveling
in Mindanao, U.S. official travelers attempt to lower their profile, limit
their length of stay, and exercise extreme caution.
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No area of the Philippines
is immune from the possibility of a terrorist attack, although the
southern island of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago are
particularly affected. One of three bombs that exploded on February
14, 2005 was planted on a bus near an upscale commercial district of
Makati, Metro Manila, killing four people. In December 2005, the
U.S. Embassy closed its public services for two days in response to
threat information. Travelers should be aware that since security
has increased at official U.S. facilities, terrorists might seek
softer targets. Such targets could include, but are not limited to,
places where Americans and other Westerners might live, congregate,
shop or visit, including hotels, beach resorts, clubs, restaurants,
shopping centers, businesses, housing compounds, transportation
systems, places of worship, schools, or public recreation events.
The Department strongly encourages
Americans in the Philippines to register with the Consular Section of the
U.S. Embassy in Manila through the State Department's travel registration
website,
https://travelregistration.state.gov.
The U.S. Embassy is located at: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines,
tel. 632-528-6300. The Consular American Citizen Services (ACS) section's
fax number is 632-522-3242 and the ACS web page is at
http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rp1/wwwhmain.html.
Americans can obtain information on
travel and security in the Philippines from the Department of State by
calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States; or 202-501-4444 from
overseas.
U.S. citizens should also consult
the recent Public Announcement for the Philippines, the Department of
State's Consular Information Sheet for the Philippines and the Worldwide
Caution Public Announcement, located at
http://travel.state.gov/
to obtain updated information on travel and
security within the Philippines.
For Information on How to Protect Yourself, Your Family, Your
Employees, and Your Trips Abroad,
Contact our Risk Managers today.
info@internationalriskmanagement.com
877-211-3654 or 559-294-0316
Click Here
for
Instant Quotes & Online Purchase
for Global Travel,
Medical & Life Insurance
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