I take news of westerners being kidnapped seriously but that usually only happens in western Mindanao; an area I wouldn't venture in anyway. Putting the whole of Mindanao off limits because of a couple of isolated incidents in the north of the island is jumping the gun in my opinion. I look at the reasons as to why the Swiss were killed and one was allegedly slaughtered for suing the locals, and the other, most likely, involved a jealous ex boyfriend.
Furthermore, the Germans who were kidnapped from their yacht were taken off the coast of Palawan, so why doesn't Palawan have any warnings?
1 news story Michael, the day you need to worry is when you have police searching for people like this
http://www.mb.com.ph/notorious-gang-leader-falls/Police identified the suspect as Khadafy Guiamelon, a notorious kidnap-for-ransom gang leader implicated in about 30 abductions in Central Mindanao. Guiamelon is also believed to have led a botched bloody daytime heist in Koronadal City last Thursday in Koronadal City.
and from the PNP
http://pnp-pro7.org/mostwanted.html
Yes, I would regard Palawan as risky as well
Abu Sayyaf like to use this island to kidnap westerners
I remember a few years back an American guy ended up being beheaded after being taken from Palawan
Mindanao does not have isolated incidents - it's more like on a daily basis
Davao Airport has been bombed before and random bomb attacks are frequent
Yes it may be mainly in the western part of Mindanao but the eastern part of Mindanao is only a bus ride away
Abu Sayyaf can turn their attention to other parts of Mindanao any time they feel like it
Marikina is sounding wonderful at this moment. Now, if I can sort the family out ...
Ok there may be some places that may be considered relatively safe but you can't expect the authorities to give out maps with places marked up off limits, its much easier just classing the whole island as unsafe. I still think these extremist groups are mobile and you may find yourself in trouble in any part of Mindanao....
To put some perspective on this let's not forget that Mindanao is similar in size to Luzon, Iceland, Ireland and Cuba
It's 4 times the size of Sicily
It's 9 times bigger than Jamaica.
One of my ship's crew is from Mindanao and he is very happy there and proud of his home but even he tells me never to go there as it would not be safe for me
Marikina fault line...
http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/...isolate-manila
Nowhere is safe...
-=rayna.keith=-
...When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible...
I was in Davao a few years ago and felt safe. Maybe it's different now. It is here tho' to be fair. Always the same advice don't be flash with cash and helps to have a local with you.
No offence taken Andy, I know what you mean and yes you may be right and that's why he has warned me against it.
I'd dare to suggest a lone female tourist would be safer in Davao than Manila.
Certainly a lot safer than say a holiday to Dominican Republic, Jamaica or Thailand etc.
I'm just referring to what the foreign affairs chump in Australia spewed out. He only mentions kidnapping and going by my knowledge, only a certain number of provinces in the west of the island have been affected.
As for bombs going off, yeah, a few have gone off in the malls in Davao, but that wouldn't deter me from going, especially as I come from a country where approximately 100 incidents related to terrorism have occurred in the past 45 years (not including Northern Ireland).
I would steer clear of the malls anyway because I'm only interested in Samal Island & Mount Apo. I have no intentions of sightseeing in Jollibee's.
Furthermore, Camiguin and Siargao can be reached without setting foot on mainland Mindanao.
Even a lot of Filipinos from Manila won't travel to Mindanao because of these stories about Abu Sayaaf - when there is probably more chance of them being killed in some shooting/bus incident in Manila than being kidnapped in Mindanao. It's got more to do with the people that have never been there spreading rumours than the actual risk.
@London Manila - just in case you don't know -Abu Sayaaf can travel by plane/boat too, so Manila is no safer than Mindanao.
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