Dangerous Cities in the Philippines

The Philippines is a beautiful country to live and visit in South East Asia, yet there some dangerous Cities in the Philippines to avoid. It has 300,000 km2 with a population of around 109 million people, making it the 13^th most populous country in the world. The Philippines is an Island country as it consists of approximately 7,100 islands. 

There’s no doubt that the Philippines is a beautiful country, but every country has its opposing sides as well. Some beautiful cities visit and some dangerous cities in the Philippines that you should avoid at retirement or planning to visit.  Listed below are some of the most dangerous cities in the Philippines you should avoid living in.  

The Capital city of the Philippines is Manila, with a population of around 2 million people. It is the most densely populated city as of 2019. It is the 2^nd most populous city in the country, with Quezon City at first with around 3 million people. Both of these cities have a lot of hustle and bustle, and there is no problem in visiting them after retirement and spending some time there or even living there.

Areas and Cities to Avoid in the Philippines, at Retirement

There are many dangerous Cities in the Philippines and military regions to should be avoided at all costs.  Let’s have a look at some of them.

Less Crowded Island dangers

First of all, as we mentioned, the Philippines is full of islands. Like other countries, it also has many beaches, but there is a difference. Beaches in other countries are filled with people, and you’ll enjoy the company of people and have fun with them. 

But the scenario is not the same in the Philippines as it has so many islands and beaches, there is a strong chance you’ll end up on a beach with little to no people at all. Which will make you lonely on the island, and you might become a victim to muggers. So beaches with fewer crowds are the first places to avoid the dangerous Cities in the Philippines when you visit there.

Military Areas in Philippines, Terrorism Risk

All of the southern areas of the Philippines are a no go zone. There was an attack on government facilities in 2017, which resulted in martial law in the area. The military is still present in that area, and it should be avoided to visit at all cost and is considered part of the dangerous cities in the Philippines.

There’s a terrorist group called Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is blamed for several terrorist activities in the southern Philippines. They have also been blamed for several kidnappings, clashes with security forces, and many other violent incidents. 

There are a couple of other terrorist groups as well, which are known for different violent incidents around the country. 

The Dangers of Getting Kidnapped

There are some areas in the Philippines where the chances of getting kidnapped are very high. You should avoid these areas while visiting the Philippines or even if you are a resident of the Philippines, try avoiding going to these areas. Here is a list of areas where the kidnapping ratio is high, and you should avoid them.

• Zamboanga City
• Patikul
• Jolo
• Pagadian City
• North Cotabato Province
• Pangutaran Island
• South Cotabato Province
• Sultan Kudarat Province
• Lanao del Sur Province
• Sarangani Province
• Lanao del Norte Province
• Iligan City
• General Santos City

Some More Dangerous Cities to Avoid in the Philippines 

As we mentioned earlier, almost all parts of the southern Philippines are dangerous and should be avoided if you plan to have a trip there after retirement. Some more areas do not have a good reputation and they have high crime ratios. 

The Sulu Archipelago is another such area. It is a chain of islands in the southwestern Philippines. There are many reports of crime, civil unrest, and terrorism on this chain of islands.

Marawi City, travel dangers

Marawi City should also be on your list of dangerous areas to avoid at retirement. It’s a city in Mindanao, Philippines, and travel authorities have even issued travel advisories in which they have asked travelers not to visit this city to prevent any mishappening. 

More than 200,000 inhabitants have fled from Marawi since 2017. So this place is not even safe for local inhabitants as of now. We hope that situation gets better there with time but right now, it is a no-go area.

Marawi City is the place where the Battle of Marawi took place in 2017. It was a five-month-long conflict between Philippine government security forces and militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This battle and the unrest after it make it the area not to visit soon and it is considered part of the dangerous Cities in the Philippines.

Jolo Province, travel dangers

Jolo province is known for a dangerous group of Muslim rebels called Abu Sayyaf. This group is known for kidnapping different people for ransom. Plus, the group has easy access to the sea, and they run away on their boats when the government or military tries to catch them. Many governments even restrict this area, and it is not easy to visit there even if you want to.

Basilan Province, kidnapping danger

The province of Basilan is a province entirely on one Island. Muslims and Christians occupy the area, but some other ethnic groups live on this island and its cities, which are considered dangerous Cities in the Philippines.

This island is used for terrorist activities and keeping kidnapped hostages by Abu Sayyaf we mentioned above. This is also a no go area in the Philippines after retirement.

Cotabato Province, dangers

Cotabato province is another such area where violence keeps happening on day to day basis. Muslims have fought here for decades for autonomy and resources.

Things are getting better in this province as there was a peace deal between Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government. However, something still heats up there occasionally, and people keep getting hurt.

Metro Manila, threat areas

Metro Manila is not as dangerous as other dangerous Cities in the Philippines. But it is still among some dangerous cities in the world. Many muggers in this city might mug you or steal your things without you knowing. They can also take your things at the gunpoint. So when visiting Metro Manila, just make sure you are not alone and you should be good to go.

In conclusion, the most dangerous cities in the Philippines

The Philippines is a beautiful country to visit at retirement and generally. It has a lot of islands and a lot of natural beauty. The big cities have developed shopping centers and many big shopping malls and a lot of brands there. The point is, it’s not like it is some backward country where you should not go at all, it’s just that there are some areas and cities which you should avoid at retirement.

Philippine Influence hopes you’ve enjoyed this article.

Please leave your thoughts, comments, and experiences below.

~Staff

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