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Canada and UK advise expats in the Philippines to avoid protests
| Published: | 4 Oct at 6 PM |
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The Canadian and British Foreign Offices are warning all nationals living in the Philippines to stay well clear of rallies and protests and obey alcohol and firearms bans.
The deteriorating situation in Mindanao along with the upcoming Barangay elections on 28 October has resulted in warnings to both tourists and residents expats from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. Foreign nationals taking part in rallies and mass protests, it said, will face deportation as their participation violates the Philippine immigration laws.
The warnings were specifically aimed at overseas visitors on tourist visas, but the two Foreign Offices are including resident expats in their concern. According to the British Embassy in Manila, well over 100,000 British nationals visited the country in 2012, with the vast majority of visits trouble-free.
The Canadian government has updated its travel advice pages for visitors to the Philippines, issuing similar advice about rallies and protests, and including warnings about unrest during the pre-election period and the day of the election itself. It notes that, apart from the laws against carrying firearms, a two-day ban on the sale or consumption of alcohol will come into effect on 27 October.
The Canadian advice also states that certain hotels and entertainment venues will be exempted from the ban, but notes that violators will be arrested and face imprisonment and fines. It also warns of an increase in police checkpoints manned by police or the Philippine Armed Forces.
The deteriorating situation in Mindanao along with the upcoming Barangay elections on 28 October has resulted in warnings to both tourists and residents expats from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. Foreign nationals taking part in rallies and mass protests, it said, will face deportation as their participation violates the Philippine immigration laws.
The warnings were specifically aimed at overseas visitors on tourist visas, but the two Foreign Offices are including resident expats in their concern. According to the British Embassy in Manila, well over 100,000 British nationals visited the country in 2012, with the vast majority of visits trouble-free.
The Canadian government has updated its travel advice pages for visitors to the Philippines, issuing similar advice about rallies and protests, and including warnings about unrest during the pre-election period and the day of the election itself. It notes that, apart from the laws against carrying firearms, a two-day ban on the sale or consumption of alcohol will come into effect on 27 October.
The Canadian advice also states that certain hotels and entertainment venues will be exempted from the ban, but notes that violators will be arrested and face imprisonment and fines. It also warns of an increase in police checkpoints manned by police or the Philippine Armed Forces.
Comments » There is 1 comment
John Newton wrote 10
years ago:
Although the Philippines is filled with nice people, I really do think that the over population and poverty is making the country more dangerous every year. My wife is a Filipina and I am doing everything possible to keep her from going home to visit her relatives. I tell her to just send them the money she would have used for the visit. It is sad to see the Philippines become a dangerous place to visit.
