SAFE TRAVEL IN THE PHILIPPINES DURING AN ERA OF TERRORISM AND KIDNAPPING.
The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 lush, tropical islands that entices you with its natural beauty and vibrant culture. The islands are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with the capital city being Manila. Geographically isolated from the rest of Southeast Asia, the Philippines was first discovered by Europeans during Magellan’s voyage to circumnavigate the world in 1521, and at that time existed as a collection of tribal kingdoms. The Spanish ultimately succeeded in uniting these kingdoms under the Spanish flag, naming the country Las Islas Filipinas after King Philip II of Spain. The Spanish proceeded to colonize the country for over 300 years, followed by the United States for another 40 years. The Philippines played a major role during World War II as the allies sought to overturn Japanese occupation, and finally, in 1946 the Philippines became an independent republic. While centuries of colonial rule have had a significant influence on the culture, it has created a unique harmony between traditional Eastern practices, Spanish-influenced architecture, and modern Western sensibilities. The Filipino people are incredibly friendly and outgoing and very welcoming to visitors. Approximately 80% of its population is Roman Catholic and while there are 19 recognized regional languages, it is one of the largest English-speaking nations in the world.
The Philippines’ diverse beauty includes many spectacular centuries-old Baroque Churches and natural wonders like the Chocolate Hills, the Puerto Prinsea Subterranean River in Palawan, breathtaking limestone cliffs, sparkling lagoons, and its vibrant coral reefs teeming with colorful sea life making this archipelago a real treasure. Pristine turquoise waters featuring miles of coral reefs beckon to divers, surfers, windsurfers, and kiteboarders. Those looking to explore on land may enjoy spelunking in the caves of Sanmar or trekking the local volcanoes.
Terrorism and kidnapping in the Philippines have been a developing problem since the 1970s and since January of 2000, radical Islamist groups in the Philippines have carried out numerous bombings against civilian targets. Jihadist kidnappings have become a particular problem. The Jihadist kidnapping differs from economically motivated kidnappings in that the victim is selected and held in exchange for some type of political demand being met, however in many recent cases we have seen groups like ISIS and Abu Sayyaf demand cash ransoms as well. The demand in many cases includes a governmental policy change, release of prisoners, etc. These types of prisoners may be utilized as bargaining chips, or to send a message and instill terror by releasing a video of the prisoner’s executions. Unless there is military intervention, Jihadist kidnappings do not usually end well for the victims.
The Holiday Oceanview Samal Resort kidnapping is a perfect example of the jihadist kidnapping threat in the Philippines. Shortly past 11:00 pm on September 21st, 2015, a group of at least 11 gunmen abducted John Ridsdel (68) and Robert Hall (50), both Canadian; Kjartan Sekkingstad (56), a Norwegian; and Filipina Marites “Tess” Flor. Two Japanese tourists bravely tried to intervene but were unsuccessful and the kidnappers made their getaway with their captives via boats. Witnesses claimed that the gunmen appeared to target the victims. The resort is guarded round the clock by licensed armed guards as well as CCTV.
John Ridsdel was the president of TVI Minerals Processing, Inc. a mining company based in the Philippines. He had previously worked for Petro-Canada in the Middle East and was a journalist at the CBC in Alberta. Ridsdel is known to have previously had some hostile environment and anti-kidnapping training.
Robert Hall was born in Calgary but lived in various places in Western Canada. He owned and operated several small businesses throughout his life ranging from a small engine repair shop to a pizza stand. He spent 25 years building his custom welding business which specialized in everything from custom trucks to aircraft repair. Hall had a passion for flying, sailing, sports and coached a local soccer team.
Kjartan Sekkingstad was the manager of the Holiday Oceanview Samal Resort marina.
Little is known about Marites “Tess” Flor but she is believed to have been the companion of Hall.
The four captives were taken to the remote southern island of Jolo, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold where they were held. The kidnappers later issued demands that the Canadian government works with the Philippine government to stop the bombing of the southern islands and demanded 300 million pesos, around $6.5 million dollars for each of the foreign hostages. When the deadline lapsed on April 25th, 2016 the militants beheaded Ridsdel. His head was found in a plastic bag in Jolo and his body was later found by villagers in a creek bed near Talipano.
Hall was the next to die. On June 14th, 2016 the brutal video of Hall’s beheading appeared on ISIS social media channels. His body was found almost three weeks after he was beheaded in Barangay Upper Kamuntayan on Sulu.
Marites “Tess” Flor was released by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu a southern archipelago known as an Abu Sayyaf hideout on June 24th, 2016. A local politician named Jesus Dureza told reporters that he negotiated her release with the kidnappers on behalf of then-incoming Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
On July 4th, 2016, Abu Sayyaf had agreed to stay the execution of Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad while an emissary of Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza negotiated with the militants, although the militants still demanded 300 million pesos or they would execute him. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) became involved in the negotiations and on September 16th, 2016, Abu Sayyaf released Sekkingstad in Patikul, Sulu after receiving a P30 million ($627,228) ransom.
Abu Sayyaf is a small terrorist group based in the Southern Philippines that pledges its allegiance to ISIS, combines radical Islamic ideology with ethnoreligious separatism, and uses kidnap and ransom as a primary means of financing its operations. While Abu Sayyaf does not have nearly the numbers they once had, their activities in kidnap and ransom have dramatically increased since 2008. The majority of their K&R operations have taken place in the Sulu Archipelago but their operations appear to be expanding with recent raids along the Malaysian coast in Semporna, Lahud Datu, and Sandakan. Their targets have included major executives and government officials, tourists, fisherman, factory workers, teachers, foreign aid workers, and even children. Generally, they conduct their raids in teams of 4-25 depending on the target. The forecast is that Abu Sayaaf will continue to increase their K&R activities to exploit the growing instability in the southern Philippines which will undermine the government’s attempts to develop the fledgling tourism industry and strengthen the economy in the southern providences.
Foreign citizens should avoid all non-essential travel to the Sulu Archipelago and the southern Sulu Sea, and exercise extreme caution when traveling to the island of Mindinao or Eastern Sabah province. Since January 2016, at least 13 separate kidnappings of foreigners have been reported across Mindanao and in September a bombing in Davao City killed 15 people and wounded another 69. Those wishing to travel to the Philippines should carefully consider the risks to their personal safety and security when planning their trip and you must be certain to not overlook the risk of terrorism. Additionally, there are occasionally political demonstrations that can create security concerns for travelers. You should consider your personal security when visiting hotels, restaurants, beaches, entertainment venues, and other recreational sites. Confidence games, pickpocketing, credit card/ ATM card fraud and internet scams, violent assaults, murder for hire, and other violent crimes are some of the crimes that travelers to the Philippines may face.
Taxis and ride-sharing applications are the recommended form of public transportation and other forms of public transportation such as the light rail system, buses and “Jeepneys” should be avoided. Be aware that taxi drivers and individuals using stolen taxi cabs have committed robberies and you should consult your hotel, restaurant, and or reputable business establishment to recommend a reliable taxi service. You should avoid entering a taxi if it already has another passenger. Request that the driver uses the meter to record your fare. If the driver is unwilling to meet your requests, you should find another taxi. In these cases, make a note of the license plate number of the cab or text it to someone in case there is an issue. If you choose to drive in the city, make sure that the vehicle doors are locked and the windows are rolled up. Travelers have been stopped and robbed shortly after leaving Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport in both taxis and private vehicles.
When traveling to the Philippines there are several personal security measures you can utilize to reduce your risk of harm. Situational awareness is the foundation of personal security since you must be aware of your surroundings and what is happening in your environment in order to be able to recognize potential threats and effectively manage them. Whether it’s a minor crime like pick-pocketing or purse snatching, or a violent crime like a sexual assault, armed robbery, or kidnapping, many of these crimes can be avoided or at least their impact mitigated if the potential victim exercised better situational awareness in the moments leading up to the event. Identifying where and when you are most likely to be attacked and reasonably adjusting your situational awareness level based on your environment and situation is key to recognizing and avoiding potential attacks. Some critical times when you must focus on situational awareness and avoid distractions include arrivals and departures from any location when boarding mass transportation, choke points or areas where your movements are channelized and restricted or that are suitable for ambushes and identified danger areas that have a history of criminal activity or violence.
Listen to your instincts and pay attention for the danger that comes from feeling “safe”. We have an innate ability to subconsciously detect indicators of potential danger in our environment that we must recognize, and then use to guide our behavior and implement reasonable and necessary personal security measures. It is very easy to become complacent in what feels like a familiar or safe environment and as a result, you will inadvertently expose yourself to risk, so you must always be cognizant of your situational awareness, constantly assessing your environment and adjusting your situational awareness levels and personal security measures appropriately.
You should be wary of anyone you don’t know that tries to befriend you, particularly just after your arrival in the Philippines. Do not accept food or drink from strangers or rides in private vehicles, even if they appear to be legitimate. There have been incidents of travelers being drugged and robbed after accepting an invitation to a tourist destination outside of Manila.
I’ve mentioned personal security measures but let’s discuss what I mean. Personal security measures are the actions you take to mitigate the risk of crime and violence in your environment. These concepts are flexible and should be employed in a manner that is reasonable and necessary for your environment and threat profile. Some basic personal security measures you can utilize to minimize your exposure to risk while traveling or working in the Philippians include: Conducting a personal risk/threat assessment, avoiding predictability, blending in, sanitizing yourself for travel, using decoy/dummy wallets, purses, surveillance detection, and defensive tactics.
Good personal security while traveling should be reasonable, necessary, and designed to address the specific threat you face while remaining as least restrictive to your daily routine as possible. You must research and understand your destination. To determine your threat level, you must conduct a risk/threat assessment. While you can do this yourself and it’s the best way to really understand the environments you will be traveling in, it is very time consuming to do properly and there are several strategic security / close protection firms that offer threat assessment and other professional travel security-related services at very reasonable prices.
If you elect to conduct your own personal risk assessment you must be realistic and as comprehensive and detailed as possible. To accurately determine your exposure to risk, your assessment should identify the specific threats you face for the specific environment and activities. Also assess vulnerabilities in your schedule, routine, and lifestyle. Another aspect that you should consider is probability vs. criticality and impact of a particular incident. Your assessment should focus on the threats you will face each day and consideration should be given to schedule, location, predictability, modes of transportation, type of accommodations, venue, activities, etc. Consider how attractive you really are as a target. Are you well known, wealthy or will you be perceived as wealthy? Are you politically active or is there any other reason why you are likely to be targeted? Does your physical appearance make you an inviting target? You must attempt to view each threat from the perspective of the potential adversary. If possible identify modus operandi and the specific tactics and techniques you may face, in order to identify the most appropriate personal security measures.
Avoid predictability. You can dramatically reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of a targeted attack by ensuring that your daily schedule and routine are not predictable. Most criminals and terrorists will conduct some sort of preoperational surveillance in the target selection and planning phases of their operation to identify predictability in the target’s routine and assess where they are most vulnerable to attack. By varying your daily routine, routes, departure and arrival times, parking spots, etc., you make yourself a much harder target and reduce the likelihood you will become a victim.
Blend in. When we travel it is important that we blend in as best we can. However, this is very dependent on the society we are traveling in and in many cases, it simply may not be possible to truly blend in. You can minimize unnecessarily standing out. Items like cowboy hats and boots, sports jerseys, American brand name products, T-shirts with flags or patriotic slogans, conspicuous jewelry or national, political, or religious identifiers should be avoided. Consider your race, gender, complexion, hairstyle, personal grooming, and any body piercings or tattoos you may have and how they could be used to identify and classify you. Wear clothing the locals wear but don’t go, full native, as you may make mistakes that make you stand out. Do not wear souvenir or military-related clothing. Your footwear should not be trendy and have any logos that identify them as American. And do not wear military-style boots. Always consider your conduct and demeanor in public and whenever possible, use the host country’s language. As we already discussed, the Philippines is one of the largest English-speaking nations in the world. You want to look as neutral as possible in a crowd based on your dress, personal accessories, and demeanor. Sanitize yourself for travel. It is important to think about the things you are carrying whether it be on you person, in your bags, or electronically and how they may impact your travel safety and security. You may want to utilize a dummy wallet/purse with just enough cash to pacify a local criminal so that you can willingly surrender it without losing everything. You may want to consider dividing your currency, credit cards, and other valuables amongst different locations including your person, luggage, and lodging to minimize loss in the event of a theft or robbery. Avoid using the in-room or hotel main safe and it is best to leave unnecessary valuables at home.
Surveillance Detection should be utilized when traveling, working, or living in an environment where there is a threat of terrorist attack or kidnapping. The ability to detect hostile or suspicious activity early in the target selection and planning phase is the primary means of defeating a terrorist attack or kidnapping. Terrorist attacks follow a distinct process referred to as the Terrorist Attack Cycle. The terrorist attack cycle includes Target selection, planning, deployment, escape and exploitation. Regardless of the type of attack whether it be terrorist such as a bombing or kidnapping or a criminal attack such as a theft there is almost always some amount of preoperational hostile surveillance conducted. This hostile surveillance is intended to assess a potential target for value, security measures and vulnerabilities. It’s during this phase that terrorists, kidnappers and other attackers are vulnerable to detection.
In general, terrorists have relatively poor surveillance skills or tradecraft. It is this poor surveillance tradecraft that if recognized can provide individuals and organizations with the time needed to involve the proper authorities, avoid an immediate threat and help prevent an attack.
In Surveillance Detection (SD), the acronym T.E.D.D. is often used by the U.S. government to define the principles and stands for Time, Environment, Distance and Demeanor. In other words, if you see someone over time, in different environments and over distance, or someone who displays poor surveillance tradecraft, then that person can assume they are under surveillance.
Time, environment, and distance are not applicable when a specific location or mode of public transportation is targeted or in the case of an ambush attack. Therefore, when talking about hostile surveillance, demeanor is the most critical of the four elements. Poor demeanor will often help the target (you) or a surveillance detection unit, identify hostile surveillance.
Demeanor indicators include people wearing unsuitable clothing for the weather or environment, people with unusual bulges under their clothing, wires protruding from their clothing, people who are sweating profusely, people mumbling to themselves or fidgeting, people who appear to be attempting to avoid security personnel or law enforcement and people who appear out of place.
In the event of an attack, you must determine whether or not and when to resist an attacker. This will be dependent on the situation and your personal skillset. Generally, property and economically motivated crimes should not be resisted. Violent crimes such as assault, attempted rapes, kidnapping, etc, should be resisted at all costs and your response will be dictated by the dynamics of the situation. The same is true for situations involving restraints. You must remember that any time you allow yourself to be restrained, you reduce and or eliminate your ability to fight back. If you commit to using violent physical resistance you must utilize the element of surprise, speed, and violence of action, employing as much violence as possible seeking to disable the attacker sufficiently to allow escape. Your attack should focus on vulnerable soft tissue areas such as the eyes, throat, and groin and be repetitive until the attacker is disabled or breaks contact and retreats. Palm strikes, hammer fists, elbows, knees, rakes, and improvised weapons allow you to inflict maximum damage on your attacker without inadvertently injuring yourself. Most importantly, you must have a combat mindset and be determined to survive at all costs.
Travel in the Philippines can be an amazing experience but travelers must not let the beauty of this tropical destination and its friendly people lull them into a false sense of security, as its dangers are very real. However, by combining a comprehensive personal risk/threat assessment with sound personal security countermeasures, travelers can minimize their exposure to risk while maximizing their enjoyment.