Warden Message
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This
information is current as of today,
PHILIPPINES
July 16, 2003
This Public Announcement has been revised to remind travelers
of security concerns in the Philippines, particularly on Mindanao.
It supersedes the Public Announcement issued March 7, 2003,
and expires on January 17, 2004.
The
terrorist threat to Americans in the Philippines for kidnapping
and bombings remains high and the Embassy continues to receive
reports of ongoing activities by known terrorist groups. On July
14, three terrorist suspects with links to Jemaah Islamiyah and
other international terrrorist organizations escaped Philippines
Government custody. In view of a number of security-related incidents
and the possibility of future terrorism, kidnappings, and other
violence or criminal activity, Americans traveling to or residing
in the Philippines are urged to exercise great caution and maintain
heightened security awareness. Extremist groups present in Southeast
Asia, such as Jemaah Islamiyah, have demonstrated transnational
capabilities to carry out attacks against locations where Westerners
congregate. Terrorist groups do not distinguish between official
and civilian targets. Four Americans have died in incidents related
to terrorism in the Philippines during the past year.
Terrorist
attacks continue in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao.
Since February 2003 bombings have claimed many lives and injured
hundreds throughout Mindanao. These incidents included a bombing
at the international airport in Davao on March 4, 2003, which
killed at least 20 people, including one American, and injured
over 140 others. The Government of the Philippines condemned these
bombings as acts of terrorism. Other explosive devices have been
discovered and defused prior to detonation in these and other
areas of Mindanao.
U.S.
citizens are urged to defer non-emergency travel to the island
of Mindanao due to recurring bombing incidents and threats of
other violence and criminal activity, including kidnapping. U.S.
citizens should avoid all travel to the islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi,
and Jolo, located in the Sulu archipelago in the extreme southwest
of the Philippines, due to kidnappings and other criminal activity.
Americans residing in Mindanao and in the Sulu archipelago should
carefully review their security posture, take appropriate action
to secure their well-being, and remain in close contact with the
Embassy for current information. As a precaution, the U.S. Government
has restricted travel by official personnel to these areas.
A
number of bomb-related incidents have also occurred in Metro Manila.
The U.S. Embassy urges Americans to avoid crowds and crowded places,
including nightclubs and bars, and to exercise special caution
in public places, such as shopping malls, or when using public
transportation.
The
terrorist New People's Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist
Party of the Philippines, operates throughout the Philippines
and has issued public threats against U.S. citizens and interests
in the Philippines. In January 2002, an American tourist was shot
and killed by an unidentified gunman on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo
in Pampanga Province, an area known for NPA activity. Americans
are warned to avoid hiking or camping in this area and are advised
to exercise caution when traveling elsewhere in the Philippines,
due to armed clashes between the New People's Army and government
troops in some areas.
Extortionists
have kidnapped several Filipinos and foreigners, including three
American children. Kidnappers operating in Metro Manila and throughout
the Philippines have snatched family members of prominent local
business leaders and politicians for financial gain, to make a
political statement, or as part of business, land, or personal
disputes.
The
terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) continues to issue public threats
against U.S. citizens and interests in the Philippines. The Abu
Sayyaf Group has taken hostage large numbers of Filipinos, Americans
and foreign tourists since April 2000. Several were freed after
substantial ransoms were paid, some escaped or were rescued by
military action, and some were killed. In 2002, one American hostage
was killed and another injured during a rescue operation after
spending more than a year in captivity. Because Abu Sayyaf has
demonstrated its ability to travel long distances by boat to kidnap
foreigners, such as the May 2001 kidnapping operation in Palawan,
it is possible that other locations in the Philippines, such as
beach resorts, could be attacked. Americans should particularly
avoid beach resorts in areas where the Abu Sayyaf Group continues
to be active.
U.S.
citizens living in or visiting the Philippines are encouraged
to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy, located
at 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila; tel. (63-2) 301-2000. For further
general information on travel to the Philippines, please consult
the Department's latest Consular
Information Sheet for the Philippines and the Worldwide
Caution, both of which are available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.
