Palawan / Marshall Law... should we be concerned?
 

Our 20 year old daughter is leaving for the Phillippines on Saturday. She and her 25 year old friend are going to Palawan for a vacation before heading to Japan... As some of you might be aware, they declared Marshall Law in mindanao.. our daughter is still planning on going...

What say you that have more experience than I in this area?

We are concerned but do not want to be reactionary ...

I rely on the UK Foreign Office travel advisories rather than the US State Department as they are less alarmist. Having glanced through the advisory for the Philippines I would say you are right to be concerned. I, personally, would not visit at present. (Probably not while their current president is in office, but that's a different matter.)

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/philippines

Thank you Thursdaysd...

:(

I hope she decides not to proceed.

The travel warning map is lowest for most of the Phillipines including Palawan.

As it's just three days away it's pretty hard to change plans now so just be careful and stay away from isolated places.

I would not want to go there now either with the way things are being done and condoned by Duterte.

You may want to ascertain whether she wants to stick to her her plans due to lack of concern or due to budget.

If it's the latter, and if you are in the position to offer, I would offer to pay change fees or for a new ticket. At 20, I would have been focused on the cost of the ticket and I probably would have made the wrong decision based on that. I made poor driving and flying choices that I knew were poor at the time but money was the bottom line.

I agree with Thursdaysd. I wouldn't visit.

@jacketwatch:

"Terrorist groups continue to plan kidnap operations against western nationals in the Philippines. This threat extends throughout the Philippines, both on land and at sea, but is particularly acute in the southern Philippines (Mindanao, southern Palawan and central Visayas, including Siquijor and Dumaguete)."

"On 9 May 2017, the US Embassy in Manila advised its citizens it had received “credible information that terrorist groups may be planning to conduct kidnapping operations targeting foreign nationals in the areas of Palawan Province, Philippines, to include Puerto Princesa City, and the areas surrounding Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park”. You should carefully consider travel plans, and exercise heightened vigilance in these areas."

I suggest reading the whole thing before deciding.

I imagine a new ticket would cost less than a ransome.

If the US embassy advises against it then yes, I would skip it.

Palawan has been at the top of island destinations or near it for years so it would make sense to harm the govt. where it hurts, in the wallet with terrorist acts. Such a mess of a world we are in.

I would not go. I am by no means a nervous traveller, and am in Asia at the moment. We were considering a diving trip to Sipadan in Malaysia (close to that area) but the UK travel advisories warned against it. As we were in Sandakan a couple of years ago when a philipino gang kidnapped a Malaysian we did take the warning seriously and have changed our plans.

I know many Americans do not travel with insurance, but even if your daughter did have it it would not cover travel to an area where a govt. warning was in place.

Her flight will not be direct to Palawan so it may be possible just to reroute the last section to Japan. Air Asia fly there from KL and maybe other destinations and are usually have pretty cheap fares.

I spoke with friends who have gone many times to that area to visit family. They said they have crossed it off their list for now.

These are well seasoned Phillipine visitors. They were horrified to think of young girls going there.

I know young people can be pretty stubborn. Would they consider a visit to Okinawa or Guam for the beach time instead?

Thanks everyone...She is concerned about the money and concerned for her friend and not following through with her plans. We have offered to cover the cost of her ticket etc.

I have a friend who is actually in Davao right now...scary world.

Two pretty young american's will be an easy target :(.

She is to fly into Manila spend the night and then to Palawan. I am hoping things change by the time she gets on the plane on Sat. I did get her a room at the Marriott in Manila by the airport as they were staying in a very cheap place some place in the city... She humored me by saying "fine" and canceling her hotel plans. (they have a flight back to Manila after Japan and have an overnight lay over as well on the return portion of the trip).

Thank you all again so much.

Great, I think the Marriott was definitely a good move. I hope everything goes well!

I have a fb friend in that area, She a former colleague. I'll check with her but I don't know if that's enough to change anything. I do hope your daughter changes her mind, There are other places.

Well, obviously, the friend shouldn't be going there either. I wonder if she is saying the same thing to her friends and relations? However, everything may be fine, it's just that the odds are worse than they were.

I did not say she was going there. I said she was there. She actually is from the Philippines and retired back home to that area at least 10 years ago.

jacketwatch: >>I did not say she was going there. I said she was there. She actually is from the Philippines and retired back home to that area at least 10 years ago.<<

I'm pretty sure thursdaysd was talking about the OP's DD's friend - not your filipina friend.

janisj is right.

In any case if I hear from her I'll let you know. :).

Please do.

She is being exceptionally difficult and comparing it to when she lived in Brisbane for 5 months and there was a bombing in Sydney.

Rest assured I will. I can imagine how she feels at that age. You so look f/w to going no matter what. as lcuy said they can be stubborn at that age but regardless of how pretty Palawan is I agree with the others in that now is a very bad time. Please keep trying. It's really a bad idea. Maybe as lcuy said go for an alternative place.

Jack - I have suggested and offered to assist $$$ wise and time wise with the planning/changes. I am trying and she really is not listening...