Philippines kidnappings

Regarding the Philippines, the US Department of State recommends avoiding all nonessential travel to the Sulu Archipelago and the southern Sulu Sea and exercising extreme caution at the island of Mindanao. This is due to separatist and terrorist groups carrying out attacks and kidnappings against civilians and foreigners. 

In western Mindanao, terrorist, insurgent and criminal gangs have conducted at least 15 separate kidnappings since January 2015. In September 2015, assailants belonging to the Abu Sayyaf Group kidnapped four individuals, including two Canadians and a Norwegian, from the resort island of Samal, a 15-minute boat ride from Davao City. One of the Canadians was killed on April 25 after his kidnapper’s ransom demands were not met. 

In early October, a foreigner was kidnapped in the City of Dipolog.