For so many years most of the foreign embassies have given out travel warnings about the Philippines, and in particular the Island of Mindanao where my home, Davao City, is situated.
Now I have been coming here for five years and traveled around Mindanao a lot, and I have never come across any problems that made me feel threatened, well except one when a drunken policeman and his Army friend tried to get money from me.
Most of the foreign embassies treat Mindanao as a war zone, and of course just like Thailand there are political and turf squabbles in certain parts that involve war like activities.
However, that is like saying that the USA is not safe to visit because 100 men fought in a remote area of Alaska, or that the UK is unsafe as one bomb went off in Belfast.
The most important thing about security is the security of your home and your family, and like anywhere else in the world you need to take precautions based on the local area and local concerns.
Most of us foreigners live in gated properties, but so do most Filipinos.
The truth is that there are bad people in any country ready to take advantage of your naivety or stupidity, and to steal or cheat from you.
Remember that the average working man’s wage here in Davao a day is around p200 or $4. I spent half of that on a haircut today and a the rest on a pint of milk. My point is that if you had to eat and feed your family and were so desperate for money, maybe you would take advantage of an expat who in the eyes of the poor Pinoy is a king in terms of money.
If you leave your phone, watch or anything out, or your home unguarded you will pay the price and like anything related to security the best thing is to ensure you give yourself and your property the common sense protection that you would probably do in your own home country.
Easy to forget when you are in Paradise, your own rules.
I am doing some work on security for some clients here in Davao and as part of that task I interviewed Paul Fuller from New Zealand who frankly talked to me about what happened to his family, and the consequences and the actions he has taken to solve it.
Paul was burgled probably by locals, who apart from the theft of computers and household items, stole important paperwork and personal belongings that cannot be replaced.
Insurance and Police involvement can be a luxury here, and remote areas are not even worth alarming to an alarm company, as the distance and communication problems can be too much of a problem.
I spoke to Paul a few weeks ago and this is a little of the chat I had with him.
And on a positive note to end on the British Embassy has now said that certain parts of Mindanao are safe, well done the Brits.
About John
John: the most important security feature I’ve found here is to get to know your neighbors… People tend to watch out for each other here and if your neighbors know you, that makes you less of a target.
Hi john, these fences are also a great idea if you have teenage daughters! but I can,t help thinking the house resembles a prison compound. As for personel safety, I have to say common sense is your best weapon, if the little alarm bell in your head is going off then listen to it. I have been pickpocketed here on one occasion and can,t say i was particularly upset about it, it was just a matter of time and besides the people I believed did it looked hungrier than me.
hi John ..I have a bamboo fence around my place and the neightbors are the best,everybody is telling me I have to put up a hollow block fence last longer then bamboo ..but we do have trouble with the rebels here sometimes coming into the area , So I, have to be ready to leave when that happens,other wise it is a quit place to live.I like it …Phil n Jess
I watched this video, the electrified wire barrier. It seems easy enough to defeat, simply using a pair of ordinary rubber insulated wire cutters to cut the metal wire and gain access to the property without getting shocked. I think it would be a better idea to use that money (whatever the cost was to buy the materials to build that electric fence) to buy a theatrical/Professional quality Dracula costume, along with some fake blood and some fake fang-teeth and what not. Then you could sneak around the neighborhood at night, but make sure a few people see you. Soon word will spread that an Aswang lives at the property, and any would-be burglars will avoid your property!
And also maybe you could put some fake (but lifelike) dead bodies or body parts laying around in the yard. When burglars climb over the wall and see that, they’ll haul-ass outta there for sure!
John M
I agree and I think Paul would tell you that he has great neighbours and its a good community spirit. But by the same token the break-in was done at a very particular time when the house was empty of everyone at night. It could possibly be that local knowledge was involved in the break in. Close relationships with neighbours can be positive or negative too.
Phil R
Here in my home in Davao I only once had a break in when a young boy jumped the wall ran across the garden and into my house and out in seconds and back over the wall.
I never fathomed out what he got as I never found anything missing.
God he moved fast.
What, nobody likes my idea???
Joe
Love your idea.
I think if you knew the place had electric defense system and you were determined you can still break in. The idea of the fence is to stop petty theft and opportunist and they will not carry that equipment.
However Dracula yes and dead bodies no lol
Daryl
I was surprised when I visited Paul’s house that I could not even see the fence against the skyline unless I really looked.
Even when I did see it I mistook it for a phone line at first.
As for teenager daughter I could not comment lol
I believe this sort of thing can happen anywhere; in my humble opinion the best security can be found with one or two good dogs. I am not sure the electrified fence is a good deterrent.
Joe
I forgot to mention Joe that the dogs on that day were at the vets. Coincidence??
Also spoke to an American guy today who was very distressed as his pet dog (also security) died this week from symptoms of rat poison.
He is now worried that this is a prelude to someone wanting to get to him or his home
Hi John,
The issue of home security is something always on my mind there. What, if any, limitations on home security are there in the Philippines? I mean, there’s the electrified fencing, but what about barbed wire? I don’t recall seeing any barbed wire fencing in Davao. Have you come across motion detecting systems there? I sound like I’ve watched too many spy movies, eh?
Cheers!
Henry I see many places now putting up barbed wire which looks so bad. I also see broken bottles cemented onto walls that acts as a deterrent, however is so dangerous.
Unlike my home country CCTV is not that common here, but after a spate of major thefts a friend of mine here installed a CCTV at his resort and his profit level shot up!!!
Remember labour here is very cheap so the security guard is very common everywhere, although of course these guys work long hours for poor pay and are human when it comes to “turning a blind eye”.
What about dogs? Wouldn’t that be a good way to secure your property? They put so many pitt bulls to sleep in the US. And dogs (depending on the breed) are much less likely to sleep on the job like the security guards that John Grant mentions.
Rey
Dogs are used here more for security than pets but unlike UK and I assume other countries Dogs bark all day and night and to be honest no one pays attention.
Infact people have learnt to sleep through it.
And as mentioned its very easy to Poison dogs here.
Here in General Santos I had a friend who was a Spray Pilot and a Fighting Cock Breeder! After several raids by thieves who got away with valuable cocks he set up his own special security!
Where the power lines came onto his compound, he took both the wires and re set them all around the top of his perimeter fence but using open cables before going to his house! Any thief who would try to break in after that would have been well fried!
Well Bob that may get us our Roast Chicken. lol
speedy little buggers aren’t they
Hi Chris – Anything a man must do to protect his cock is well within reason!