PHILIPPINES - PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

THE DILEMMA – THE GOVERNMENT (USCIS) REQUIRES YOU TO ACTUALLY MEET THE LADY BEFORE YOU CAN FILE HER PETITION, YET ANOTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY (DEPT. OF STATE) WARNS ABOUT THE DANGERS IN TRAVELING THERE!

         Due to my love of the Philippines, perhaps one of the two most difficult things for me to have to report on  are the scams, dangers and crime warnings contained in this website. Whether or not you utilize our services, we wish to stress that it is imperative that you be given enough information so that you are able to make an knowing and hopefully intelligent decision concerning your contemplated  trip to the Philippines.

         Irregardless of your love and desire to travel there to meet her, your own personal security and safety must always be at the forefront of any and all travel plans you may have! So read the information provided below and click on the links.  At least this way you can make knowing and intelligent travel plans.

          Remember that no matter where your online lady friend lives, even in the southern most regions of Mindinao, Basilan, Sulu and Zamboanga, Cagayan De Oro, Cavite, Manila, etc., she will almost always say that it is safe for you to travel there, and follow it up by telling you that there are so many other foreigners there.  One way or another, and whether she is legit or not, it is in her best interest for you to travel there .

          What most Filipina, Pinay never consider is that when you are an American you have white skin, pointy western nose and often blue or green eyes, blonde, brown or red hair… Therefore you must always be careful since you cannot change these physical traits and they do in effect place a target on you. If you do not always consider this fact, you are susceptible to attack, robbery, kidnap, robbery or worse!

          That’s why we are even more vigilant when accompanying a client or friend to certain areas of the Philippines.

          In addition to the dangers found in all major cities,   there are also certain areas of religious and political unrest’s that one must also be aware of. These range from the New People’s Army (called NPA), to the Muslim extremists who are found primarily in parts of Mindinao. Most common of these are the Abu Sayyaf and the Muslim or Morrow Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Morrow Liberation Front (MLF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the Al Khobar group    (Of these groups the Abu Sayyaf is considered the most violent and dangerous.)

   It is strongly recommended that the first time traveler have an experienced Philippine traveler with him or her. Not only will it be much safer, but also in the long run you will actually SAVE a good amount of money!
   For the foregoing reasons, but not expressly limited thereto, if you do not have an experienced Philippine traveler with you, it is important to know where you can stay and shop safely when visiting some of these areas. Some hotels have security guards, restaurants and even disco clubs within the hotel, making it safer (but usually more expensive) for the tourist.

          Below are only a few selected links to make you aware of the dangers which exist in traveling to the Philippines.  However, first and foremost we direct you to our up to date travel warnings and reports published by the United States Department of State: (See quotes below)

    http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_999.html

     Some of these groups are known to kidnap foreigners for ransom, and have even decapitated missionaries. Americans who felt safe and secure because they were at Palawan resort island.  Palawan is one of the most expensive and luxurious tourist places in the Philippines.  The Abu Sayyaf group kidnapped a group of 20 tourists and workers from a luxury resort in Palawan and in their small boats took them to Basilan.  This is where the group decapitated the husband of the American Missionary couple because of the policy of United States to never pay ransom to any such groups.

Check these reports and links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilan

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/07/08/phil.basilan.abusayyaf/

Kidnaps have also occurred elsewhere , such as Iloilo:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-26538100.html

Or Zamboanga City:

The rebels say they believed 24 year old Jeffrey Schilling works for the CIA, a rebel spokesman said in a Philippine radio interview.

The spokesman said Schiller would be killed if Washington and Manila did not negotiate.

"Maybe we will behead him," he said.

"We have been trying very hard to get an American because the Americans may think we are afraid of them," he replied when asked if they had abducted Schilling to prevent a military operation against Abu Sayyaf.

Schilling arrived in the Philippines in March and has been living in a house with his Filipino girlfriend in Zamboanga, according to immigration records.

http://www.designofmine.com/philippines/nydn083000.html

Even children, teachers and Priests are at risk:

The Abu Sayyaf, which says it is fighting for an independent Islamic state, is also holding six other Westerners and 12 Filipinos on Jolo Island. The group freed six hostages last week for a reported $6 million ransom, paid by Libya. It freed other hostages earlier.

Schilling is held on Jolo by another Abu Sayyaf faction, however, one responsible for kidnapping about 50 schoolchildren and teachers in March on neighboring Basilan Island.

Two of the teachers were beheaded after the United States ignored the group's demand for the release of several Arab terrorists held in U.S. jails. The faction also tortured and killed a Catholic priest.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/southeast/09/03/philippines.hostages.ap/

Jolo Island Rebels:

The Philippines has been plagued by kidnap-for-ransom gangs in recent years, causing a drop in tourism and economic activity nationwide. The stock market fell 2.1% after reports of the latest kidnapping, which comes amid worries about the government's widening budget deficit.

Last month, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered police to wipe out 21 kidnap gangs within a year. The list did not include Abu Sayyaf, which is primarily the military's responsibility.

Abu Sayyaf guerrillas often demand ransom, but also use poor hostages as slave laborers and human shields. Some women captives have been forced to marry guerrillas.

They have even captured people in nearby MALAYSIA and brought them to Philippines!

…A Filipino man is still being held from another Abu Sayyaf mass kidnapping two years ago from a tourist resort in the neighboring nation of Malaysia.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2002-08-21-philippines-hostages_x.htm

One More Yellow Bus Bombed (Sept. 19, 2007)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Another unit of Yellow Bus Line Inc. (YBL) was bombed around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at the company terminal in Koronadal City (also known as Marbel), pulling a fast one on the bus management that has set up strict security measures, and the military, which has just formed the Task Force Marbel last week. 

Tuesday's attack was the fourth for the company, which implemented stricter security measures following the August 3 twin bombings that killed a pastor and injured 14 others.

In the past, authorities and bus management have blamed extortionists calling themselves as the Al Khobar group for the attacks.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2007/09/19/1.more.yellow.bus.bombed.in.marbel.html

Tacurong City Bus Bombing (July 18. 2007)

http://mindanao.com/blog/?p=2186

Davao City Bus Terminal Blast  (March 29, 2006)

An explosion ripped through a passenger bus inside a terminal in Davao del Sur on Wednesday, slightly wounding at least eight people, police said.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143831268.html

Blast hits Cotabato bus terminal, 3 killed (May 18, 2007)

http://www.topix.net/world/philippines/2007/05/blast-hits-cotabato-bus-terminal-3-killed

Even In Northern Philippines::

The government troops rescued a kidnapped Chinese American on Wednesday morning in the northern Philippines, the military said.

Alastair Joseph Onglingswan, a 35-year-old American business executive of Chinese descent, was rescued by the National Anti- Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) in Cavite Province.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113119030.html

 TAKE CARE AND TRAVEL SAFE!! GOD BLESS AND MABUHAY!!

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AND CONSIDERATION, BELOW QUOTES FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATES WEBSITE, (REPORT LINK UPDATED: October 03, 2007) CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR LATEST UPDATES.

(http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_999.html)

SAFETY AND SECURITY:  The Department urges Americans contemplating travel to the Philippines to carefully consider the risks to their safety and security, 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 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 with extortion methods, especially those citizens engaged in business or property management activities.

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.  Manila is not immune to bombing activities; as recently as August 2, 2007, two improvised explosive devices were planted in the Taguig and Mandaluyong areas of greater Manila.  While both devices failed to detonate, these incidents highlight that the entire country is at risk from these groups.  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.

Americans residing or traveling in the Philippines should also always remain aware of their surroundings, listen to news reports, and ensure that travel documents are current.  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 web site, https://travelregistration.state.gov. The U.S. Embassy is located at: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines, tel. 63-2-528-6300. The Consular American Citizen Services (ACS) section's fax number is 63-2-522-3242 and the ACS web page is at http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3004.html.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affair’s Internet site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.  For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.

CRIME:  As in many of the major metropolitan areas in the United States, crime is a serious concern in Metro Manila.  As a rule of thumb, Americans should exercise good judgment and remain aware of their surroundings.  Reports of confidence games, pick pocketing, and credit card fraud are common.  Be wary of unknown individuals who attempt to befriend you, especially just after you have arrived in country.  A number of recent robberies and assaults involving the “date rape drug” (known locally as Ativan) have occurred; the drug is generally administered to unwitting male and female visitors via food or drink.  It is best not to accept food, drink, or rides in private vehicles from strangers, even if they appear legitimate.  There have been several kidnappings and violent assaults of foreigners in the Metro Manila area.  There have also been reports of gunmen robbing foreign passengers in vehicles traveling to and from the international airport.

Taxis are the recommended form of public transportation.  However, the following safeguards are important: do not enter a taxi if it has already accepted another passenger; and, request that the meter be used.  If the driver is unwilling to comply with your requests, it is best to wait for another cab.  It is also a good idea to make a mental note of the license plate number should there be a problem.  When driving in the city, make certain that the doors are locked and the windows rolled up.  All other forms of public transportation, such as the light rail system, buses, and “jeepneys” should be avoided for both safety and security reasons.

Visitors should also be vigilant when using credit cards.  One common form of credit card fraud involves the illicit use of an electronic device to retrieve and record information, including the PIN, from the card's magnetic strip.  The information is then used to make unauthorized purchases.  To limit your vulnerability to this scam, never let your card out of your sight.

A continuing problem is the commercial scam or sting that attempts to sell or to seek negotiation of fraudulent U.S. securities.  Visitors and residents should be wary when presented with supposed Federal Reserve Notes or U.S. securities for sale or negotiation.  For further information, consult the Federal Reserve System's Web site.

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available.  Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law.  In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.  More information on this serious problem is available at http://www.cybercrime.gov/18usc2320.htm

REGISTER  AT  THE EMBASSY

Americans residing or traveling in the Philippines should also always remain aware of their surroundings, listen to news reports, and ensure that travel documents are current.  The State Department strongly encourages Americans in the Philippines to report to and register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manila through the State Department's travel registration web site, https://travelregistration.state.gov.  That way, if you disappear or don't make your flight back, they know where to start looking.