Travel Advisory to the Philippines According to recent news reports the following countries are advising their citizens not to travel to the Philippines unless its essential. These countries are Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada, and UK. This information was broadcast on ABS CBN yesterday, Wednesday 3rd. This mornings ABS CBN 900am news, various people were interviewed, some senior members of PNP and Army saying there was no identified threat. However other members of government when interviewed, saying that there was threats to places in Manila and other places, and they used the words either “terrorists” or “armed groups”. All very confusing, from the Philippine end. I tend to think many of these MLF or terrorist groups are in many cases armed thugs, looking for opportunities. They are certainly not short of arms. For those living outside of the Philippines, a good webb site is Philippine News for the Filipino Global Community, one of the news papers here
This is a "cut and paste" from todays newspaper. WASHINGTON – The United States has joined four other nations – major allies in its global war on terror – in alerting its citizens of terror threats in the Philippines, particularly in areas frequented by foreigners in Metro Manila. The US travel alert came a week after a near terror attack on its shores and hours after the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada issued similar advisories to their citizens planning to travel or are already in the Philippines. In Manila, the British embassy clarified yesterday that it had not raised the level of its travel alert for the Philippines and did not specifically mention Metro Manila. “There’s been no change to the level of threat,” Colin Crorkin, deputy chief of mission, told The STAR. “We have not changed the level of our travel advice.” He clarified that only one sentence was added the other day to their long-standing warning about the terrorist threat in the Philippines: “Such places could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, places of worship, etc.” The travel alert was revised, Crorkin explained, after they received an intelligence report about a terror threat in the Philippines. He said his government shared intelligence with the Australians, who warned the other day that the terror threat could cover Metro Manila, “but it’s up to us to make our own interpretation of the reports.” The Armed Forces of the Philippines said there is no imminent threat of terror attack in the country. In a travel advisory issued on Tuesday, the US State Department warned Americans of the risks of going to Mindanao and Sulu and said indiscriminate attacks could also occur in other areas, including Metro Manila. “US citizens traveling, living, and working throughout the Philippines are urged to exercise heightened caution in public gathering places. US citizens should exercise caution when traveling in the vicinity of demonstrations since they can turn confrontational and possibly escalate to violence,” the advisory said.
I just finished watching National Geographic’s Second From Disaster in which they uncovered the mistakes in the unfortunate failed rescue attempt of the German police on the failed 1972 Olympics terrorist attack and the killing of the Jewish athletes. I couldn’t help seeing some parallels to the same screw ups in Munich and the recent Manila bus hostage goat rodeo. So hard to understand, I had better training in the 60’s in the military to tactically take care of business and I personally know there are other former marines, seals, special forces, rangers, and airborne warriors living in the area who had equal or better training. So now the US gov’t has posted terrorist warnings for PI. We should not take those warnings lightly nor should we be fearful. The news showed the PI PNP and military taking appropriate steps; still, if I was still living in Makati I would not go to 5 or 6 key areas. I was living there when the Ayala 1 explosion occurred and I think they are still trying to determine if it was a gas or terrorist explosion. After 911, our lives changed forever. So for those questioning my concern, the word “terrorism” is a reality, unfortunately.
Good, because maybe this will help drive the exchange rate back up! Something needs to. This 42-1 crap sucks...cheers...
