Live in the Philippines

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Personal Safety for Expats

Safety / by

If you are a foreigner and you are going to live in the Philippines, security is something that you should keep on your mind.

I am not the type that constantly worries about my safety. I have lived in the Philippines for more than 17 years, and really I don’t get too concerned about safety and security, the truth is that I feel very safe here. I have never experienced any kind of threat to my well being here, and I don’t expect to. I feel pretty comfortable, frankly.

However, feeling comfortable does not mean that you should be cavalier about your security. One of the reasons that I don’t worry much about my safety, and that I feel quite comfortable is because I have taken precautions which I feel minimize the risk of bad things happening. Now, don’t take me wrong, there is still risk, but it is minimal, even though I am a very high profile foreign target. Because of my large web presence, and the fact that I live in Mindanao, I am probably a nice target for those who would wish to do me harm.

Mindanao is not the only target

Even though Mindanao has a very bad reputation when it comes to security, this is certainly not the only target in the Philippines. A lot of bad things happen on every island in the Philippines and can happen in any city. Kidnappings happen in Manila, in fact over the years Manila is the primary area where kidnappings happen in the Philippines, although most people would think otherwise. The main targets for kidnapping in Manila when it comes to kidnapping are very well off businessmen there. Also, most people of Chinese ancestry are targets as well. The children of these people are perhaps the ones with the biggest target on their back.

So, while Mindanao gets all of the bad press, it is certainly not the only place in the Philippines where your safety could be in danger.

What do I do to lessen risk?

Security - Take care of yourself
Security – Take care of yourself

As I said earlier, I am a pretty high profile foreigner here. When I have traveled around the country, it would be rare that I would go to a city anywhere in the Philippines and not have somebody know who I am. If I walk down the streets, a lot of times just “regular folks” will say “it’s MindanaoBob”. I am not trying to brag or anything, it is just a fact of life. It is because I have a large following on the Internet, and not only foreigners or those abroad.

Although I generally do not publicize it, there have been times when I have been contacted by the City or National governments to warn me of various threats that I should be aware of. I appreciate this, but it has also made me aware that I should take care of my security and take measures that would lessen any danger (although I don’t feel the dangers are that high).

One thing which I do not do is “announce” publicly when I will travel or where I am going. I see a lot of foreigners give out very specific information about their travel, primarily on Facebook. They will come right out and say something like:

I am flying on Tuesday to Cebu on Cebu Pacific Airlines, flight xxx

Frankly it is crazy to announce something like that. If there is a bad guy who is looking to kidnap a foreigner, what great information for him to get ahold of! This gives him specific information where he can find the type of person he is targeting. I would not consider it bad to announce something like:

I’m going to take a trip on Tuesday, hope I have fun!

And, then, after returning home you can share pictures, post about your trip and stuff, because you are not announcing specific future plans. But announcing it in advance, especially with specific information only makes you a target for trouble.

Giving your home address

In the past, back when this website was young, I freely published not my exact address, but enough information where nearly anybody would be able to easily find my house.

Not only was this stupid and invited problems, but it actually did cause problems for me.

Believe it or not, the problems were not from Filipino bad guys either. No, I got serious security threats from other Americans living here. It got to the point where I had to bring in the PNP and give them the threats that I had received for them to evaluate and deal with the threats. It was not that I was threatened, but my children were threatened by these other foreigners. It was pretty scary.

You can bet that I no longer give out much information that would help people find where I live.

What kind of threats?

Although what most people worry about is kidnapping, there are other kind of threats or hassles you could face. One thing you might face, while probably not dangerous, is that a lot of beggars and poor folks might show up at your house and try to get money from you. If you think this is not much of a hassle, spend some time in the Philippines during November and December of any year. This is the time when people freely come and ask for their Christmas money at your gate. It is a huge hassle. You don’t want to invite this kind of activity for the rest of the year.

If you don’t tend to your security situation you may face any number of other problems ranging from mundane to extreme danger. Best thing you can do is to defend your personal information, be careful about who you share such information with (even sharing with foreigners can lead to problems), and generally don’t give you trust to anybody who has not earned it and proven that they mean you no harm.

Enjoy the Philippines, but also protect yourself.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. BIG difference between “thinking” you are safe or “feeling” safe, and actually being safe.

  3. Nice article Bob. Security is always on my mind here especially with school age children. The perception that all foreigners are rich is an issue. I take it day to day and keep both eyes open. I like it here and enjoy the company of my Filipino neighbors but mama didn’t raise no fool. If someone strange is hanging about I make sure they know that I know. I’ve had several neighbors offer to sell me guns for personal protection but with the laws here and the current state of affairs I think I’ll skip that. I’ll do the best I can without getting paranoid. Semper vigilis.

  4. Good read Bob, and I will take note. I already have announced on Facebook about my upcoming trip to the Philippines in September. I posted the date, but not where I am flying to. I will keep it that way. During past trips, I often tagged my location when I was in an airport, or a nice resort or hotel. This time, maybe I will wait until I am back home, or at least away from that location.
    My American brother in law and my sister in law are currently traveling all over northern Luzon with no escort. He says he has not felt unsafe at any time.

      • Hi Bob,

        I think your suggestion on not mentioning travel plans on Facebook, other social media or your site is great advice! We keep an extremely low profile when we go visit. My primary concern when doing this is that I don’t want people in the USA to rob my home there while away. We also wait until we come back to post pictures or videos. It would be difficult to post anyway from a net cafe.

        Peace

        Jay

        • Jay, that is great thinking. I had not considered the possibility of a home robbery while traveling overseas. It has been so long sine I have lived in the US that the thought did not even occur to me. Another great reason to not publicize your travel itinerary.

          • Hi Bob,

            I bought my 9 year old son a bike a couple of weeks ago. He left it outside our garage. My wife took the boys to the store for a couple of hours. When they came back the bike was gone. What kind of scum steals a kids bike from in front of the garage. It was a cheap bike from WalMart, but still I will have to replace. Nice article! It gave me an idea for an article, but that would be own the road…maybe.

            Peace

            Jay

            • Hi Jay – Yep, those kind of things happen worldwide. Some people try to tell me that such tings just don’t happen in the US and it just shows how bad the Philippines is, but we all know that petty theft and such happen elsewhere. Sorry for your son. I am sure he was heartbroken!

        • Insurance companies also check social media to see if you have told the world you won’t be home for a few weeks.

  6. Keeping a low profile is common sense.Foreigners cannot get a gun licence but their Pinay pertners can. A stun gun can also give you peace of mind.

  7. A Singaporean lady was kidnapped right out of Solaire. After RW, this will hurt the gambling sector since security issues are on minds of the PRC and other big rollers. Maybe no impact to expats who retire here, but the industry does create a lot of jobs and tax revenue goes a long way towards infrastructure.

  8. Bob, maybe this post could lead to a compendium of practical, specific, action-oriented, “common sense” measures. Your article mentions one: Don’t post your exact travel plans. But what exactly does “be vigilant” mean? Here is my list. We live two places, 40 km ouside the provincial capital in a fifth class municipality and, during the week in a rental in the capital so our kids can go to a better dchool. In our house in the country: 1. My wife’s mother is very social. She has asked her friends in the market to any strangers asking about us or just foreigners. 2. Same with the neighbors, including strangers just hanging around. 3. I love dogs and we have four large ones who I have trained not to eat food except from their bowl. 4. We have the Chief of Police and the police station on speed dial. More difficult in the city since there are two schools near our house and many trikes and habble habble drivers waiting for fares. Since our kids go to a “School of Tomorrow” school with learning mostly out of PACE books, we stay home in our house one to two days per week and vary those days. Beyond that, nada. Please can you and your many friends make suggestions to add to these measures.

    • Thanks for sharing your thoughts. What things need to be added are somewhat different from person to person depending on their lifestyles.

    • Great suggestion Don! Like the rest of the folks responding, I echo the need to take certain precautions. Likewise, I enjoy a secure feeling traveling in my wife’s hometown on Leyte, as well as southern Samar. I will be retiring there soon, and will take similar precautions such as poison proofing our security dogs, maintaining a low profile, avoiding predictable routines, establishing strong relationships with key people. Also, I understand the legalities that a foreigner cannot own a firearm, so I transferred ownership to my wife. Now I need to learn how to travel with firearms from the US and how to declare them so we can avoid any problems. Does anyone have any advice?

  9. this is a very good post Bob .I may have to make the move to the Philippines spent two winters in parst of Manila never realy did feel quite safe no matter wher I was the first winterI took a cab most places and the last time jeepneys but always had a feeling of cautiion when ever out

    • Sorry to hear that Wayne. Personally, I feel quite safe when out in public, but I also keep in mind that I might not be as safe as I think I am, so I take prudent precautions.

  11. I’ve lived in Manila for past six years and ride a motorcycle just about everywhere from Tondo (bad area) to Makati. I also lived in LA and Wash DC. Felt more in danger in Wash DC Anacostia or South Central LA than in Manila. Here it is poverty driving crime, most of it petty. In US, can be just about hate for others that will get you killed. There really is no reason for a foreigner to go to the poor areas of Manila, so just be careful and use common sense.

    • Common sense if very important… although common sense is not as common as it used to be! 🙂 Like you, I feel safer here than I do in the USA. I don’t know if that is reality, but that is how I feel.

  12. Many good points in there Bob,
    Much the same as we were taught by the military in Europe during the Cold War. The same things that protect you from garden variety criminals like pickpockets and burglars, go a long way for protection from the more serious ones.
    I don’t even advertise that I’m going to take a trip. That could tell potential burglars that your house is vulnerable. Necessary coordination takes place in private. I’m also a firm believer that spontaneity is my friend.
    Over the years we’ve also cultivated an expanding circle of acquaintances among our neighbors, and have worked with the Barangay Captain from the beginning.
    Take care,
    Pete

  13. Great article Bob. Up here in Luzon ( I won’t say where) it’s always wise to be vigilant with the huge population,traffic etc. Sept 1st will be 1 year being here & I haven’t had any problems at all but I’ve always maintained the “better to be safe than sorry” attitude when traveling around. Because of how things are these days in this part of the world it’s better to not be too naive while enjoying life here in the Philippines.

    • I believe that it is not only “this part of the world” where caution is to be followed, but the entire world presents danger these days. But, being an obvious target because we are obviously not Filipino, it does present a different problem for us. Congrats on your coming 1 year anniversary.

  16. Bob, I have a few security suggestions also for anyone that intends to post pictures or video. We are planning on moving to Davao in 4 years from now after retirement. I enjoy watching the YouTube videos folks post and have thought about doing that myself just for fun similar to Bud Brown but in Davao. I also have thought about security and find that I can locate a person’s house about 80% of the time just from the videos they show leaving or returning to their house….. Even if they start or stop a few streets over. This is due to additional pictures or video they have also shown of the front or shape of their house in other videos. With most cities in the Philippines on Google maps now it’s a no brainer. I will say Paul up outside of Subic has done an excellent job with maintaining his security while posting pictures.

  17. I have been many places in Mindanao, some of which are probably not OK for kanos, such as south east starting with Catabato , read the news, be aware, Overall in Philippines I have felt more safe than in some cities in USA I have been in. Obviously where Islamic fundamentalist are, not a good idea,, for the most part, NPA is not a problem for kanos safety wise, though if you settle down where they are,, expect community contribution demands.

    • I have been to every province in Mindanao except Sulu. That includes Tawi Tawi, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, etc. Places that are classified as very dangerous. I really would not consider Cotabato dangerous although many do. Overall, the security situation here is not nearly as bad as the press would indicate.

    • Bob Martin you are the expert, just saying when in Catabato had some experiences and dealt with some folks that kinda had me not comfortable,, maybe was fine and I was just paranoid,, dudes got on the bus I was on with lots of guns, looking around and they were not cops or AFP

    • Ha ha… I have experienced that in Basilan. Some guys walking on the side of the road carrying grenade launchers! LOL, they did not bother me. I have been to Cotabato City many times and only found friendly people there. Some people are under the impression that Cotabato City is mostly a Muslim City, but the truth is that the majority of people there are Christian.

    • you are right in Catabato, I was just paranoid for some reason , still had a very good time there, some other places on the island had “check points” on bus that were NPA but they never bugged me,, and at some point I was a “guest” in their space with my friends, may have helped that I fill water jugs for the locals at only tap with miles outside the home I was staying in , everyone was very good to me

    • Bob can say this only from my own experience, I have been around them and no problem, though if living in their barangay as a kano can expect to pay a “tax” politely asked for at the receiving end of a 45 caliber, at least surigao del sur

    • Bob Martin Rode my mountain bike all over Negros near Victorias and Silay and no one ever bothered me. My sister in law is paranoid and sees NPA in every barangay.

  18. You’d said everything was business as usual in Davao. Does that mean guns, granade launchers, etc. are a common site in your area?

      • I re read your article and it’s a good one. Yes, I re read it even though you’d said I was ignorant.

        Ignorant people like me got their draft notice in the 60ies. Wow, thanks.

  19. I guess safety comes with experience, we get wiser over time. We learn to avoid the main issues because we became more aware of how things work. I worry more about those folks arriving in Manila and getting ready to party. But I guess everyone need to go through a learning curve 🙂

  20. I am amazed Bob at the people like HGB that probably have never even been to Davao or southern Mindanao and either just heard stories from a friend of a friend or see soldiers with guns and see it as war. I lived in Philadelphia in a very nice neighborhood , and paid 3000.00 a month rent for a tiny condo and outside on the street in 8 months 9 people were stabbed and shot to death. Mexico I had a winter home for 4 years and feel safer there and the Philippines than I ever did in the states where I was afraid to take my trash out at night without a neighbor accompanying me. THERE IS A REASON MEXICO AND THE PHILIPPINES HAS SOLDIERS AND GUNS IN CITIES . IT DETERS ATTACKS. IN PHILLY 9 PEOPLE WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY IF THE USA HAD POLICE WITH AUTOMATC RIFLES ON STREETS. And even in Makati Not one death in 3 years at my neighborhood….. Last November I went to Southern Mindanao to see my friend Judith before she passed away. Like you said Bob I kept my head down and a low profile and I saw both soldiers and rebels (Or at least I think they were) and no one bothered me on my 1.5 hour journey one way on the trike. Or tried to interfere with my travel to the mountains…. .AND TODD. Again People go to Manila and they see Makati and place all over Metro Manila, as easy place to pick up whores…AND it is……. Keep in mind Makati is like the HOOD … Everywhere you turn someone is there to scam you……. 5 years I lived there and Eastwood QC everywhere you go is Lady Boys and Whores..And RED LIGHT DISTRICTS IN METRO MANILA…. So again Todd how many women in the states … 4 of them walk up to you and decide you are so undesirable all 4 want a boom boom from you… All the signs were there for your money or your friends to being stolen….. Here’s 2 scenario’s ONE a wine bar, Church gathering, A Festival, A sports Bar, where you just might meet a nice catholic girl and hey you still have your wallet……. Two…. A place like Makati that is copied over like New Orleans Bars…… All of them charge you twice as much for beer as Hooters and a thousand whores try to get you to go home .. And the Lady Boys you can’t tell if they are boys or girls…. Like Bob says … If You stand out and draw attention you are an easy mark…… All those 4 girls was there for was one or 2 to keep you distracted and moaning while the other 2 stole and cleaned house.. THE OLDEST BAIT AND SWITCH TRICK IN A WHORES BAG OF TRICKS…. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION FROM A MAN WHO HAS HAD MORE FUN THAN A GROUP OF MEN AND NEVER ONCE LOST HIS WALET… OR HIS HEAD FROM BEING IN A BAD ARE……

  21. Thanks for another great article Bob. I recently came back to the States. I had seen a friend just a few days before I left and her husband passed away just after I left. My girlfriend was talking to me on the phone and passed the phone to her. She asked why I wasn’t at the wake. I said ate, I’m in the U.S. She said I just talked to you. Yep, I don’t post any of my travel plans on social media until they are over.

    • Not saying NPA are by any means good, just saying to my knowledge, other than hitting up kanos living in the sticks for taxes they have don’t kill or kidnap foreigners as a matter of habit .

    • I would say that the NPA are bad guys. They kill plenty of people and such. They kill foreigners. But, usually they don’t mess with foreigners.. but they do sometimes, so be careful.

  23. Good article, I also live (from time to time) and have a house in a small Village on Mindanao, I have many friends there ( a lot of tricycle drivers, fishermen and laborers ) and they watch out for thing’s that don’t seem right or someone hanging around that hasn’t been seen there before, it rarely happen’s but they are watching for me too. I don’t dress flashy or wear any jewelry of any kind not even a watch. I learned this from traveling the world when I was young… Don’t be flashy, be nice to the locals and have friends…

    • always my approach in the phils , just wear flip flops, shorts and t-shirt, eat the street food, be nice and appreciative of the locals,, and they will take care of you , never had any problems

    • yeah…Shorts, shirt & flip flops.. that’s my dress code too, when I’m in the states I’ll go to thrift stores and buy next to new t-shirts and shorts and gift them to the locals it might cost me a hundred bucks for shorts for many…

  26. Hi Phil – You asked the same question twice. Here is the answer that I gave the last time you asked:

    Because of the relative proximity to Marawi City where the siege is still not quelled, I would consider CdO to be a bit iffy right now.