Published: March 5, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Philippines Travel Advisory and Philippines Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Manila
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000
Tel: +63-2-5301-2000
U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu
Waterfront Hotel, Lower Ground Floor, Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines
Tel: +63-32-231-1261
OSAC Country Chapters
The OSAC Manila Country Chapter is an extremely active chapter with regular meetings.
Contact OSAC’s Asia team with any questions.
Philippines Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise increased caution when traveling to the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
Do not travel to the Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Terrorist and armed groups in the Sulu Archipelago and the Sulu Sea have historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom on land and at sea, in addition to bombings and other attacks. These incidents often target foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, local government entities, and security personnel.
Do not travel to Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest. Civilians face risk of death or injury from ongoing clashes between terrorist group remnants and Philippine security forces in Marawi.
Reconsider travel to other areas of Mindanao (except Davao City, Davao del Norte Province, Siargao Island, and the Dinagat Islands) due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Terrorist and armed groups in Mindanao have historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom, in addition to bombings and other attacks. These incidents often target foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, as well as civilians, local government entities, and security forces.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Manila as being a MEDIUM-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Philippines, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
The crime emergency line in Philippines is 911.
Crimes of opportunity, including some violent crime, occur in Manila and other large cities. Crime continues to remain a significant concern in urban areas of the Philippines. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, theft, physical assault, and robbery were among the most common crimes reported to local authorities. Other common crimes included pickpocketing, confidence schemes, Internet scams, and credit card fraud. Carjacking, robberies, and violent assaults also occurred throughout the country.
Internet romance and financial scams are prevalent in the Philippines. Scams are often initiated through Internet postings/profiles or by unsolicited emails and letters. Scammers almost always pose as U.S. citizens who have no one else to turn to for help. Common scams include romance/online dating; money transfers; lucrative sales; gold purchase; contracts with promises of large commissions; grandparent/relative targeting; free trip/luggage; lotteries; inheritance notices; work permits/job offers; and bank overpayments.
Crimes against person, such as physical injuries and sexual assault, do exist. Victims have reported robberies committed by taxi drivers and/or individuals using stolen taxicabs. Reports of crime associated with other ride-sharing services are relatively uncommon. The most common form of crime is phone snatching where a motorbike drives by and snatches the phone from the subject usually waiting for a ride share service.
Be wary of unknown individuals who attempt to befriend you, especially just after you arrive in country. Do not accept food, drinks, or rides in private vehicles from strangers, even if they appear to be legitimate. Solo travelers have been drugged and robbed by strangers after accepting an invitation to visit a tourist destination.
There have been reports of credit card and ATM fraud; one common form of credit/ATM card fraud involves an illicit electronic device attached to ATM card readers that retrieves and records information, including the PIN, from a card's magnetic strip. Use credit cards only at major retail facilities and banks. Always check bills or statements for suspicious charges.
U.S. government employees must seek authorization for travel to Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, and the Sulu Sea. Martial law in Mindanao expired at the end of 2019, and Proclamation No. 55 (the State of Emergency) was lifted on July 25, 2023.
The Philippines continues to be a country of concern for human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Philippines, indicating that criminal or terrorist individuals or groups have threatened to and/or have seized or detained and threatened to kill, injure, or continue to detain individuals to compel a third party (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing something as a condition of release.
Kidnapping for ransom (KFR) is a persistent problem throughout the Philippines. Over the years, KFR payments have become a reliable source of funding for various insurgent groups in the Philippines. In southern Mindanao, KFR injects significant amounts of money into the local economy, which could suggest tacit support by the local populace. In 2023 alone, the PNP handled 20 kidnapping cases.
The PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) is primarily responsible for kidnapping investigations. Kidnapping victims are predominantly Philippine and Chinese citizens; several cases of kidnapped Chinese nationals were reported in 2022. AKG officials report kidnappers in Mindanao are mostly Muslim extremist individuals/groups. While kidnappings occur throughout the country, most cases appear to be criminal and related to casinos and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Manila as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Manila, indicating that terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups, or other targets may exist.
Terrorist violence continues to affect primarily the Mindanao region, in the country’s south. Notable groups include the ISIS-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and the Maute Group, as well as the insurgent communist New People’s Army (NPA). Terrorist and armed groups continue plotting possible kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks in the southern regions of the Philippines. Terrorist and armed groups may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.
Certain areas, including Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, and the Sulu Sea represent a higher security risk. U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, and thus have limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in those areas.
The Government of the Philippines (GPH) continued to dedicate significant resources to countering threats from terrorist groups that operate primarily, but not exclusively, in the country’s southern regions. For more than a decade, terrorists, insurgents, and criminal actors have conducted major attacks against civilians, mostly in southern and western Mindanao and on the islands of Basilan and Sulu. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and civilian law enforcement units remained engaged in counterterrorism (CT) operations.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Manila as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Philippines, indicating that demonstrations, protests, and/or strikes occur frequently, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond adequately. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Historically, elections have led to acts of violence targeting candidates throughout the country. Incidents of unrest have typically not resulted in widespread civil disturbances or large-scale partisan clashes. Following Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s electoral victory in May 2022, protests broke out across the country denouncing the results; there were no recorded widespread incidences of violence.
Protests & Demonstrations
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) may consider the participation of foreigners in demonstrations or political rallies in the Philippines to be a violation of the terms of admission. Authorities may detain and deport foreign nationals who participate in demonstrations, political rallies, or other activity deemed anti-government in nature for violating immigration laws.
Protests happen in the Philippines and could turn violent and/or result in traffic jams and road closures with limited capacity of the local government to respond.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
The Government of the Philippines has in the past echoed anti-U.S. sentiment based largely on policy issues, but the general population does not demonstrate anti-U.S. bias.
Law Enforcement
The PNP is charged with maintaining internal security in most of the country and reports to the Department of the Interior and Local Governments. The Armed Forces of the Philippines report to the Department of National Defense and have domestic security functions in regions where the government assesses a high incidence of terrorist or separatist insurgent activity, particularly in the Mindanao region. The two agencies share responsibility for counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations. The national police Special Action Force is responsible for counterterrorism operations. Governors, mayors, and other local officials have considerable influence over local police units, including appointment of top provincial and municipal police officers and the provision of resources. In some rural areas, the central government continued a long-standing practice of supporting and arming civilian militias, which often received minimal training and were poorly monitored and regulated. Some political families and clan leaders, particularly in Mindanao, maintained private militias. Civilian control over some security forces is not fully effective. There have been credible reports that members of the security forces committed numerous abuses.
There have been numerous reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings by police in connection with antidrug operations.
The PNP employs approximately 170,000 personnel within Regional Police Offices. Each division exercises independent control over all police units within its respective area of operation.
Police Response
The PNP is a capable force but is limited in its ability to respond to and assist victims of crime and traffic accidents due to a lack of response vehicles, radios, and other essential equipment.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in the Philippines, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Philippines.
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by public officials, but the government does not implement these laws effectively, and officials frequently engage in corrupt practices with impunity. Prolonged delays in the justice system reinforce the perception of impunity for the security forces and for national, provincial, and local government actors accused of corruption and human rights abuses.
Cybersecurity
Cybercrime, in general, is common in the Philippines, and contributes to the overall threat environment. Phishing, SMShing, and other types of cyber-enabled fraud are prevalent. Use caution in digital interactions.
Import/Export Restrictions
A complete listing of items that are regulated, restricted, or prohibited from import/export is available on the Philippines Bureau of Customs website.
There are no restrictions on the import of satellite phones.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
