US Embassy warns of possible kidnappings

[ChrisB0707 4]

FYI, Just got this from Yahoo News. Be safe when you are in the Philippines. I have been there many times and never had problems. I would make sure not to go outside the city.

MANILA, Philippines - The U.S. Embassy warned its citizens Tuesday that "extremist elements" planned to kidnap Americans and other foreigners in a southern Philippine city where U.S. counterterrorism troops have been deployed.

Extremist elements may be planning to kidnap Americans or other foreigners at hotels or other public places in the Zamboanga city area," it said in an e-mail.U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Thompson said she was unaware of specific details of the threat.

A Philippine security official said authorities received intelligence last month that the Abu Sayyaf — a small but violent al-Qaida-linked group — planned to kidnap wealthy Filipino Chinese traders, not Americans, in the south to raise money for operations.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

Zamboanga Mayor Celso Lobregat said police told him there was no kidnapping plot specifically directed at Americans in Zamboanga, about 530 miles south of Manila."This is really very disappointing," Lobregat told The Associated Press by telephone. "Zamboanga is a very peaceful city."

U.S. counterterrorism troops have been based in recent years in Zamboanga and on nearby Jolo island, where they provide training to Filipino troops battling the Abu Sayyaf and Indonesian militants. Abu Sayyaf guerrillas have been blamed for bombings, kidnappings and beheadings, but their attacks have considerably eased in recent years.U.S.-backed offensives against the militants, arrests and surrenders have reduced the Abu Sayyaf's strength to about 300 armed fighters from more than 1,000 in 2000, according to the military.

[RyaNRiza 1]

This has been an issue eversince, specifically in some places of Mindanao. It would be advisable not to take risk in going there specially in the Zamboanga area. I am from Mindanao and in the Zamboanga area. Very very seldom you see foreigners there. I wanted so much for Ryan to meet all members of my family. However, I made a decision that he better stay in Cebu and had my mom and aunt come here to meet him. I do not want to take a risk, most importantly his safety. His safety and welfare is my utmost concern.

-Riza

[ChrisB0707 4]

I agree, I was in Davao City in 2003 and was only there for 2 days and someone set off a bomb in the airport and killed lots of people. I never went back there. I have been to the Philippines many times since then but usually stay in Makati area now. Just be smart everyone and dont go places without lots of people and dont go outside the cities.

[SqdnGuns 21]

Nothing unusual. When I lived in the Philippines, I was registered with the USEM and would receive e-mail advisories at least once a month.

You have more of a chance of being killed by a Jeepney or crazy taxi driver in Manila than being kidnapped in the south.

[RyaNRiza 1]

Nothing unusual. When I lived in the Philippines, I was registered with the USEM and would receive e-mail advisories at least once a month.

You have more of a chance of being killed by a Jeepney or crazy taxi driver in Manila than being kidnapped in the south.

In my personal opinion, it is much wiser to take precautions than being sorry. I am not a risk taker when it comes to the safety of my loved ones life. I have experienced running to and fro with my family and the whole barangay during the Abu Sayaff attack in the town of Ipil in 1995. We were not actually living on the said town, but the place where we lived is a mountainous area where Abu Sayaff members fled after the attack. It was scary and the military plane bombings added the fear. It's funny, I am back to this memory that happened 13 years ago

Also, the US government is just doing their duty to safeguard their citizens by warning them through travel advisories. Now, it's still up to the person whether he/she will take the advisory or not.

-Riza

[ChrisB0707 4]

Nothing unusual. When I lived in the Philippines, I was registered with the USEM and would receive e-mail advisories at least once a month.

You have more of a chance of being killed by a Jeepney or crazy taxi driver in Manila than being kidnapped in the south.

In my personal opinion, it is much wiser to take precautions than being sorry. I am not a risk taker when it comes to the safety of my loved ones life. I have experienced running to and fro with my family and the whole barangay during the Abu Sayaff attack in the town of Ipil in 1995. We were not actually living on the said town, but the place where we lived is a mountainous area where Abu Sayaff members fled after the attack. It was scary and the military plane bombings added the fear. It's funny, I am back to this memory that happened 13 years ago

Also, the US government is just doing their duty to safeguard their citizens by warning them through travel advisories. Now, it's still up to the person whether he/she will take the advisory or not.

-Riza

I agree its always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your loved ones.

[ez2007 1]

Nothing unusual. When I lived in the Philippines, I was registered with the USEM and would receive e-mail advisories at least once a month.

You have more of a chance of being killed by a Jeepney or crazy taxi driver in Manila than being kidnapped in the south.

i agree

[ez2007 1]

I agree, I was in Davao City in 2003 and was only there for 2 days and someone set off a bomb in the airport and killed lots of people. I never went back there. I have been to the Philippines many times since then but usually stay in Makati area now. Just be smart everyone and dont go places without lots of people and dont go outside the cities.

That was an isolated case. Bombs also set off in Manila. I don't think Makati is safest after that November 2007 incident in that memorable Makati hotel where we stayed on my sweetie's first visit. Davao City had received several awards including "Most Livable City"

Many foreigners and their filipino wives retire here. There are several foreign missionaries here also.

[edp333 9]

Does anyone have the statistics for the number of foreigners kidnapped in Makati as compared to Zamboanga city ?

[Passing.star 0]

My Husband now (Fiance-before) met in Davao somewhere in the South. I feel scared he's not safe there because of those Abu sayaf but he insists to styaed there for 18 days and nothing happens nor threat or anything unsual happens. As long as you stay in a busy street or places where they can't snatched right away, you are safe there.

Just my 2c.

[dbears 1]

I agree, I was in Davao City in 2003 and was only there for 2 days and someone set off a bomb in the airport and killed lots of people. I never went back there. I have been to the Philippines many times since then but usually stay in Makati area now. Just be smart everyone and dont go places without lots of people and dont go outside the cities.

That was an isolated case. Bombs also set off in Manila. I don't think Makati is safest after that November 2007 incident in that memorable Makati hotel where we stayed on my sweetie's first visit. Davao City had received several awards including "Most Livable City"

Many foreigners and their filipino wives retire here. There are several foreign missionaries here also.

Completely agree! That bombing was an isolated case and even the number of people who got killed that time is still lower than the number of people getting killed in Manila. There's muggings, white slavery, day light hold up, etc.

Zamboanga is not Mindanao. And compared to the peacefulness in Davao, Manila is a jungle.

I have been to Manila several times, have lived there for almost a year. have worked in Ayala and also in Paranaque but still I don't like Manila. I don't like the pollution, the traffic and I don't like the taxi swindlers.

Everytime Ricky comes here, I make it a point to have him spend more time here in Davao than in Manila

[Skeeter211 2]

Before my wife came to the USA, I visited her in Tagum just outside of Davao City. I have been to the Phils six times and to Mindanao four of those times. I was careful about where I go, but never felt in danger. Maybe I am just naive. I never went to places that were not in the public view there. We were either at her family's home or in public places in the city. I would not go hiking in the mountains there. I never traveled alone.....even just to the store. I always had my wife or a member of her family with me.

I have been to Davao City and Cagayan de Oro too. Again....we stayed in populated areas and did not go off to the remote parts. I always kept my eyes open and don't talk to strangers. I would be friendly, but if I got bad vibes off of someone, then I just keep going quickly. Only one time I really felt uncomfortable with a stranger and I just moved quickly to get away.

Obviously, nothing can be 100% safe there. You are in a foreign country that has militant extremists that blow things up and have kidnapped people. It doesn't happen every day though and there are precautions to take to be safe.

I plan on going back with my wife to get her daughter in a few months. We will go to her Ate's house in Tagum and I don't really worry about it. I will be aware, but not paranoid.

Scott

[fitzee21 0]

My trip was in mid-May to the first week of June in 2006. Most of my time was spent in the Greater Manila area and some rural areas of the Zambales province. Didn't experience any problems in either place.

In the rural barrio, my stepmother has an enormous family (1 of 11 siblings) so there were always plenty of people around (my fiance is the niece of my stepmother). They just made sure that I never walked alone even during the daytime. Usually, if I needed something from house to house in the barrio, I would just hand one of my young step-cousins a few pesos to get things for me or if I needed an escort, there were always plenty of girls (my fiance's cousins) or young step-cousins that would go with me.

In the Greater Manila area, I was always with a few of my step-uncles everywhere we went as well as my step-aunt from the U.S.

All-in-all, just be smart and always try to have somebody, or preferably, a group with you. You can look up information regarding current safety issues even in the rural areas on the U.S. Embassy's website as well as the U.S. State Department at http://travel.state.gov

There's things such as militia that usually just want a fee, better to hand cash than yourself! Have fun, be smart, the Philippines is a great vacation!

[RyaNRiza 1]

Completely agree! That bombing was an isolated case and even the number of people who got killed that time is still lower than the number of people getting killed in Manila. There's muggings, white slavery, day light hold up, etc.

Zamboanga is not Mindanao. And compared to the peacefulness in Davao, Manila is a jungle.

I have been to Manila several times, have lived there for almost a year. have worked in Ayala and also in Paranaque but still I don't like Manila. I don't like the pollution, the traffic and I don't like the taxi swindlers.

Everytime Ricky comes here, I make it a point to have him spend more time here in Davao than in Manila

I was in Davao City last December and stayed there for couple of days. I like the place so much and the natural beauty mesmerized me. Peace and order is outstanding. I can even use my celfon in public without fearing that someone would snatch it. I saw very very few foreigners though which I wondered why because Davao is such a very beautiful and peaceful city and has a bunch of tourist attractions. I deemed foreigners are reluctant to visit the city because it's part of Mindanao and there are lots of exaggerated news when it comes to peace and order.

I've never been in Manila, but I believe Cebu and Davao is much much better when it comes to peace and order, pollution and such.

-Riza

[ChrisB0707 4]

I posted this info just to make everyone aware thats all. I have been to the Philippines many time and love the country. I purchased my first condo there last year and plan on getting 2 more over the next 2 years. I will retire in the Philippines in about 5 years after my fiancee is a US citizen. Davao City is a great city and I loved the place when I was there. The Philippine Eagle was very nice to see and I really loved Jacksridge. The DDS will take care of most the bad people, Filipino's from davao know what im talking about. I hope to see Boracay and Cebu someday. Take care and always be safe everyone. Goodluck