
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - Philippines
============================================================
PHILIPPINES - WARNING
 June 26, 1992

Summary:  The Department of State advises U.S. citizens that there
are continuing security threats to U.S. citizens in the Philippines.
 These threats will remain at least during the withdrawal of U.S.
forces from Subic Naval Base.  Short-term tourists and business
visitors to the Philippines, especially those with no visible
connection with the U.S. government, face substantially less risk
from politically-motivated terrorism.  Due to the presence of the
New People's Army (NPA) and armed bandits, travelers should exercise
caution throughout the Philippines, especially in rural areas.  Four
U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in three separate incidents since
October 1990.  The kidnappers have had both political as well as
criminal motives.  The principal danger from the June 1991 eruption
of Mt. Pinatubo now comes from lahars (mudflows) which can flood
low-lying areas and wash away bridges in Pampanga, Tarlac, and
Zambales Provinces.  U.S. citizen visitors to the Philippines are
strongly urged to check with the American Embassy in Manila or the
Consulate in Cebu concerning the situation in areas they might plan
to visit.  End Summary.

General Security:  Prominent Philippine and American government
officials have been specifically targeted for kidnapping and
assassination by the communist New People's Army (NPA).  Several
Americans, primarily military personnel, have been murdered by
elements of the NPA.  Those who are considered to be at greatest
risk include U.S. government employees, active duty and retired
military personnel, and resident Americans associated with
organizations identified with the United States.  An American
businessman, a long time resident in the Philippines, was kidnapped
in January 1992 and held for two months.

Short term tourists and business visitors to the Philippines,
especially those with no visible connection with the U.S.
government, face substantially less risk from politically-motivated
terrorism.  Because of criminal activities, travelers should
exercise special caution in rural areas and in the downtown
entertainment district of major cities.

Particular care should be exercised when traveling by public
conveyance as well as private vehicles.  Unsettled conditions may
occur at any time or place.  Only national highways and paved roads
should be used.  Except for major urban areas, road travel at night
should be avoided.

Further information and advice regarding specific locations follows:

-- Northern Luzon:  The presence of NPA guerillas and armed bandits
makes travel in the Provinces of Abra, Aurora, Cagayan, Isabela,
Kalinga-Apayao and Mountain province (including Sagada and Bontoc)
potentially dangerous.  A U.S. citizen was kidnapped by elements of
the NPA in October 1990 in a rural area and remains in captivity.
Travel to these areas should be avoided.  Visitors who must travel
to these areas should minimize road travel and take particular care
to reduce their visibility and any unnecessary advance information
about their presence.

-- Southern Luzon:  NPA units are also active and travel is
potentially dangerous in Quezon Province, Masbate Province, and the
Bicol region, except Catanduanes.

-- Visayas Regions:  Caution is advised when traveling in the rural
areas of Panay Island.  Those traveling in urban and tourist areas
(including Boracay) are advised that continuing criminal activities
dictate special caution after dark.  Travel to Samar Island and the
interior mountainous regions of Negros Island is not advised at any
time, due to ongoing criminal and insurgent activity.

-- Mindanao Regions:  Due to continuing crime and insurgency
problems travel to and within the autonomous regions of Muslim
Mindanao (Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi
Provinces), as well as the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Basilan, and
Surigao del Sur, is not advised at any time.  Other travel should be
restricted to daylight hours and paved roads.  Two U.S. citizen
missionary teachers were kidnapped and held for ten days while
touring in Sulu Province in March 1992.

The Department of State strongly encourages all Americans living in
or visiting the Philippines to register with the U.S. Embassy in
Manila or the U.S. Consulate in Cebu.

The June 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo deposited large amounts of
volcanic ash in a wide area around the volcano (located sixty miles
northwest of Manila).  The principal danger now comes from lahars or
mudflows which can inundate low-lying areas and wash away bridges.
These conditions will persist for several years, especially during
the rainy season (May to November).  Travelers in the area should
remain alert.

Americans contemplating road travel within the Philippines are
strongly advised to contact the Embassy or Consulate for updates
before commencing travel.  The Consular section of the Embassy may
be contacted during normal working hours at local phone number
521-7116, ext. 2567 or 2246.  A recorded message containing the
latest travel advisory can be heard by telephoning 521-9261 through
63 at any time.  The telephone number of the Consulate in Cebu is
311-261.  The Embassy and the Consulate will be able to provide
updated information on potential threats to the safety of Americans
in the Philippines.

 No, 92-135

This travel advisory replaces the previous advisory dated January
30, 1992, and provides information concerning additional areas to be
avoid in Luzon and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.  In addition,
this advisory warns of recent kidnappings of resident and
non-resident U.S. citizens.


