Japanese MOFA Issues Advisory on Travelers Going to the Philippines During Upcoming Holiday

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an advisory for travelers planning to travel or stay in the Philippines during the holidays. The advisory, translated into English, is as follows:

• For those who are planning to travel to or stay in Metro Manila during the year-end and New Year holidays, we would like to inform you of recent trends in criminal damage to Japanese nationals and points to note as follows.
• With Christmas and New Year’s holidays approaching, the number of Japanese victims of crime is increasing. Please be aware that you are always being targeted and take safety measures to avoid getting into trouble (or causing trouble). (We have also received information from the Philippine police authorities that the number of reports of crime victims is increasing. If you are involved in an incident and feel you are in danger, please do not resist and put your safety first.)

• Pickpocketing and theft by leaving items behind
  • There are frequent reports of people opening their bags and having their passports, wallets, and other valuables taken.
  • While walking in a shopping mall, you may be surrounded by children or vagrants who ask you for coins or other items, and while you are puzzled, your wallet or cell phone (smartphone) is pulled out of your bag or pocket.
  • There continue to be many reports of people leaving their bags and other valuables behind in restaurants and other establishments.
    • [Caution 1] When going out, please take measures such as carrying the minimum amount of cash possible and dispersing valuables on your person instead of storing them in a bag.
    • [Caution 2] Walking alone tends to be a particular target. Do not “walk around on your phone,” and do not stop unintentionally if you are approached by a stranger.
    • [Caution 3] When shopping or strolling, it is important to pay as much attention as possible to the movements of people in front of and behind you, and avoid using escalators as much as possible.
    • [Caution 4] Whenever you are away from your seat, be sure to take your bag with you.
    • [Caution 5] Recently, there have been many reports of theft of cell phones (smartphones). Some of these reports include: “Without my phone, I can’t find contact information for family members or other related persons.” or “I am having trouble viewing the documents I have saved in my phone. The number of consultations is also increasing. It seems that many people, especially those who are traveling, manage all their contact information and necessary documents in one place on their smartphones. It is essential to always assume the possibility of losing your phone or having it stolen, and to take necessary backup measures.

• Sleeping pills (coma) robbery
  • There is no end to the number of reports of robberies by people staying in Metro Manila, especially young travelers. The following is a brief description of the methods used, examples of damage, and precautions to be taken.
  • What is coma robbery?
    • A robbery in which a criminal (often an elderly woman) approaches a targeted traveler (victim), urges them to accompany him or her, and offers food or drink laced with fast-acting sleeping pills (psychotropic drugs) during the trip or at a restaurant in the destination, to put the victim to sleep and extort money or goods from him or her. （In the Philippines, the term “Ativan Gang Victimization” is commonly used by the police and others because the perpetrators often use “Ativan,” a type of tranquilizer (registered trade name).)
  • Modus Operandi and examples of damage
    • While strolling in a tourist area (Old Manila: Intramuros) or in the vicinity of Rizal Park in Manila, an unknown person asked for directions or asked if the victim was Japanese. Then the suspects start telling the victim, “We are also tourists, would you like to go with us to __?” (a) If the victim responds to these requests, they will be asked to move on foot or by cab. The following are some examples of the various types of behavior that may follow.
      • The victim lost consciousness after taking a bite of food or drink offered at a restaurant. When he came to, he was asleep in his hotel room and his wallet and cell phone were missing from his pocket. The victim knows the location of the hotel, but when he asked the hotel employee who sent him to his hotel room, he was told that they did not know who had sent him.
      • The victim got into a cab, but lost track of where they were, and two women who claimed to be their friends boarded the cab and surrounded them. The victim has no recollection of what happened after they had a snack (either a fruit or beer) that was given to them in that car. When they came to, they found they were sleeping on the street and their bag containing their passport, wallet, etc. were missing.
    • Note 1: Many of the victims said, “I was an older (elderly) woman who looked wealthy, so I let myself get carried away,” or “She didn’t look like a person who would cheat anyone,” or “I was aware of the case, but I didn’t think I would be involved in it,” or “Once you’re working with someone, it’s hard to say no to something,” or “I didn’t know where we are, and I couldn’t just refuse to eat (or drink).” The victim’s mind is considered to be very skillfully exploited.
    • Note 2: Psychotropic drugs, such as sleeping pills and tranquilizers, are scary substances that may have serious effects on the body depending on the quantity and physical condition. If you are invited by a stranger, please be very careful and vigilant and do not simply go along with the stranger or eat or drink any of the food or drink offered to you.

• Robberies
  • The Philippine police authorities are warning that robberies are on the increase. In particular, you need to be very careful and vigilant against crimes involving firearms (deadly weapons).
    • A foreign tourist was reportedly attacked by a pair of robbers on a street in Pasay City at night, and when he resisted, they shot him and killed him.
    • We have received a report that a tourist’s bag was snatched by two men on a motorcycle and injured by being dragged by his handbag.
    • Although the number of people using the Grab cab app has been increasing, there have been reports of drivers taking advantage of users’ “sense of security” by using Grab to try to steal money and goods from the passengers they let on board. In addition, there have been reports of people who, when approached and offered a ride in a horse-drawn carriage while strolling in the Old Town area of Manila, were taken into an unpopular alley where they were threatened by a driver who demanded money from them.
  • Always be aware that you are being targeted, and avoid going out alone late at night or early in the morning.
  • Note 2: If you are robbed, do not resist and put your personal safety first.
  • Note 3: When going out, please do not put all your valuables in a bag, etc., but spread them out as much as possible, and carry only the minimum amount of cash you need (prepare multiple wallets and separate wallets for carrying different items).
  • Note 4: When walking, be on the lookout for motorcycles, bicycles, etc. coming from behind.
  • Note 5: When taking a cab, whether it is a Grab or not, please make sure to check the number of the car before boarding, no matter how urgent you are. Do not use horse-drawn carriages alone.

The US Embassy to the Philippines, the Embassy of Canada to the Philippines, the British Embassy of the Philippines, and the Australian Embassy of the Philippines issued no recent travel advisories.

PSA Consultancy concurs with western government warnings to defer non-essential travel to Mindanao and to avoid chronically unstable parts of the region, particularly the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which includes the Sulu Archipelago.