Us Retains Rp On ‘Dangerous, Unstable’ List

[Mr Lee]

Not good news for the Philippines. Seems they have now been put in the same category as some not so nice places in the world. Of course we do have some people who refuse to believe stuff like this, so it must not be so, well at least not in their minds. Whatever the case, my wife and I will not stop visiting the Philippines but will use necessary caution and I recommend others who wish to visit or live in the country just use their heads as well. 01/07/2012The United States has retained the Philippines on its list of countries labeled as “dangerous or unstable” and placed it on the same level as North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia when it reissued a travel warning against Manila Thursday (Friday in Manila), citing heightened concerns on possible terrorist attacks.Washington released the travel warning the same day a video of an Australian abducted by suspected Muslim militants in Mindanao surfaced and showed him pleading for his life and appealing to his family to pay the $2-million ransom demand of his kidnappers. The last travel warning on the Philippines was issued in June 14, 2011.The US State Department said the updated travel warning “reflects continuing threats due to terrorist and insurgent activities” in the Philippines.Travel warnings, according to the US State Department, are issued when “long-term, protracted conditions make a country dangerous or unstable,” which leads them to recommend that “Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country.” It is also issued when the US government’s ability to assist American citizens “is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.”Among the countries that meet these criteria include the Philippines, and states or territories known to have existing armed conflict and unstable security conditions such as Central African Republic, Republic of South Sudan, Syria, Cote d’Ivoire, Afghanistan, Burundi, Eritrea, Kenya, Guinea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Nigeria, Lebanon and Mauritania.Also included were Mali, Libya, Algeria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Chad, Haiti, Pakistan, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Sudan and Mexico.None of the Philippines’ South East Asian neighbors, including the reclusive Myanmar, which has been denounced by the West for its gross human rights violations, was in the same travel category.Lower levels of US travel advisories come in the form of “Notices to American Citizens” and “Warden Messages.”The new warning notifies US citizens of the risks of terrorist activity in the Philippines, particularly in the Mindanao province of Sulu, a stronghold of extremist Abu Sayyaf Group, which is on Washington’s foreign terrorist organization watchlist.Terrorist attacks, it warned, “could be indiscriminate and could occur in any area of the country, including Manila.”Public gathering places, it said, may be targeted, including, but not limited to, airports, shopping malls, conference centers and other public venues.The State Department also said that “US government employees must seek special permission to travel to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago” due to sporadic clashes between lawless groups and the Philippine Armed Forces throughout Mindanao, particularly in rural areas.It also said kidnap-for-ransom gangs continue to proliferate throughout the Philippines and have targeted foreigners, including US citizens.Around 400,000 American citizens are living and working in the Philippines.More HERE

[Mugs]

scary but a man has to do what a man has to do. i am quite sure if there were no sexy available ladies there then no one would visit.

[Jollygoodfellow]

Whats new?Same warnings that have been around for years. :-kiss:

[Old55]

scary but a man has to do what a man has to do. i am quite sure if there were no sexy available ladies there then no one would visit.

Fact is you make a good point Mugs. If they could clean up their act "real" tourism could take off. Sadly I don't see than happening.

[Jollygoodfellow]

This probably why a new but recycled warning came out. Philippine leader warns of possible terror attack

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – The Philippine president has warned of a possible terrorist attack during an annual Catholic procession in Manila that may draw more than a million devotees.

President Benigno Aquino III told a hurriedly called news conference Sunday that several terrorists planning to disrupt the religious procession have been sighted in the capital. He said police are attempting to arrest the suspects and disrupt any planned attack

Aquino said security will be very tight for the procession Monday of a centuries-old image of Jesus Christ

known as the Black Nazarene He asked devotees not to bring cellphones or weapons.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-01-08/philippines-terror-plot/52447254/1?csp=34news

[Old55]

Don't bring cell phones or guns?!?! Philippines? Good luck with that. :sign0095:

[Mr Lee]

This probably why a new but recycled warning came out. Philippine leader warns of possible terror attack

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – The Philippine president has warned of a possible terrorist attack during an annual Catholic procession in Manila that may draw more than a million devotees.

President Benigno Aquino III told a hurriedly called news conference Sunday that several terrorists planning to disrupt the religious procession have been sighted in the capital. He said police are attempting to arrest the suspects and disrupt any planned attack

Aquino said security will be very tight for the procession Monday of a centuries-old image of Jesus Christ

known as the Black Nazarene He asked devotees not to bring cellphones or weapons.

http://www.usatoday....54/1?csp=34news

Often governments have info months or even years, that they do not release until someone else lets the cat out of the bag. Most of the major attacks are planned long in advance of them happening. Appearing with several Cabinet members and security officials in a televised news conference, Aquino said the threats date back to as early as August 2011.

[Mr Lee]

Well for those who say it cannot happen, and it is only dangerous in Mindanao, you might wish to read this news story HERE Explosives found in bus on ship in Masbate.Thank God for intelligence information and bomb sniffing dogs or the Black Nazarene procession might not have been so safe and peaceful, and who knows what actual targets might have been planned. Think about that, 11 kilos of TNT, how many things could that blow up? As long as there insurgency in the Philippines, or even in the world then there is a good chance places where lots of people congregate might get blown up.

MANILA, Philippines - Coast Guard and police have found a large cache of explosives inside a bus onboard a passenger ship in Masbate, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said on Monday.

Eleven kilos of TNT, 5 1/2 kilos of C4/Prima powder, 8 boxes of blasting caps, 3 rolls of D-Cord, and more than 6 kilos of prime booster were discovered inside an Elavil Bus that was on board the MV King Frederick from Albay, according to a report from the office of DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas.

MANILA, Philippines–The Malacanang’s warning of a possible terror threat on the Black Nazarene procession may not have been unfounded after all.

[Jollygoodfellow]

Well for those who say it cannot happen, and it is only dangerous in Mindanao, you might wish to read this news story HERE Explosives found in bus on ship in Masbate.Thank God for intelligence information and bomb sniffing dogs or the Black Nazarene procession might not have been so safe and peaceful, and who knows what actual targets might have been planned. Think about that, 11 kilos of TNT, how many things could that blow up? As long as there insurgency in the Philippines, or even in the world then there is a good chance places where lots of people congregate might get blown up.

MANILA, Philippines - Coast Guard and police have found a large cache of explosives inside a bus onboard a passenger ship in Masbate, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said on Monday.

Eleven kilos of TNT, 5 1/2 kilos of C4/Prima powder, 8 boxes of blasting caps, 3 rolls of D-Cord, and more than 6 kilos of prime booster were discovered inside an Elavil Bus that was on board the MV King Frederick from Albay, according to a report from the office of DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas.

MANILA, Philippines–The Malacanang’s warning of a possible terror threat on the Black Nazarene procession may not have been unfounded after all.

Could be used for illegal mining ? Fishing perhaps,next years fireworks ? :thumbsup: