Many Tourists to the Philippines are kidnapped and killed — by Colbert Bellevue

There was a time when the Philippines was dubbed “the island paradise” but she has been tarnished atrociously by internal battles and conflicts, kidnapping-for-ransom, senseless killing, and carjacking. In spite of these major issues, I certainly do not discourage you from visiting the Philippines. I, myself, have toured the island  a few times and enjoyed its breath taking panoramic scenery of natural landscape.

It is true that there a few resorts in the island, depending on their location, which provide the travelers with some comfort and space for enjoyment; however, never do they offer an acceptable level of safety and security for the tourists. This is correct. In these hotels, you will find some security guards, armed with .38 caliber side arms or outmoded shotguns. Matter of fact, these security guards have no military or combat training. In short, they are not trained to fight. So, they would not even attempt to fight back should their hotels be under attack by rebel groups.

These security guards along with their antiquated weapons are no match for warriors who are well-armed militants and kidnappers. The latter use the fastest boats money can buy. They perform their numerous kidnapping operations by conducting “sweeps” by the beach areas while some tourists are having fun in the sun. The fact of the matter is these deadly well-armed bandits have kidnapped and decapitated not only civilians but also some members of the Philippine National Police. Isn’t this horrific?

What Do I Believe?

I believe that tourists to the Philippines would feel less nervous knowing that the island is free from senseless killers and kidnappers who are overwhelmingly better armed than the police. Obviously somebody, some organizations or some committees have dropped the ball on their attempts to promote Philippine tourism via television ads costing millions while neglecting to address the core issue that is eating internally the Philippine tourism: Lack of safety infrastructure for the tourists.

I also strongly believe that visitors should be well-informed travelers for their own safety and security in the Philippines. Where would they get such unbiased and objective and complete information?  

The only thing that the Philippine travel industry is ready and willing to share with the traveling public is “the rosy side” of the Philippines where everything is fabulous and fun. This is of course one side of the coin. It befits them to keep their heads under the veil of secrecy by not revealing the whole truth of what tarnishes the image of the island paradise where so many tourists are kidnapped again and again.

Serious about Visiting the Philippines?  Watch this video to learn more about kidnapping-for-ransom and more…

I also believe that there are a number of places in the Philippines that are deadly to foreign visitors, and the latter have a right to know about them for their own very safety and security. They should be made aware of specific places in the Philippines that should be classified “off-limits” to foreign visitors.  Sure, but who would dispense such information to them? 

Why does the Philippine travel industry keep silent on revealing the complete truth on the Philippines?

I do believe that you need to be well-informed before you travel to the Philippines or even if you are a retiree there.  Nobody would like to repeat the mistakes of our fellow travelers who got kidnapped and killed while visiting the Philippines just because they were either misinformed and misguided in their journey.

Be well-informed

Is Manila “the gates of hell” according to Novelist Dan Brown?

Is Manila “the gates of hell” according to Novelist Dan Brown?

Check this book out: The Whole Truths You Should Know Before You Travel to the Philippines  While the Travel Industry is too busy promoting the Philippines as a gracious paradise, they have kept the foreign tourists in the dark by not telling us the other deadly side of the Philippines. Sure, there are some breath-taking views of natural landscapes and some relatively safe resorts, but the truth is that tourists are kept in the dark about the whole truth about the Philippines. They have absolutely no clues of the danger facing them while they visit the Philippines because what they see from their television channel is all they know, unfortunately. Then you wonder why so many tourists get kidnapped and killed. There ought to be an end to this, don’t you think? While Dan Brown was visiting the Philippines in 2013, he described Manila as “the gates of hell” and deplored the abject poverty, crime, and prostitution. I am not sure that I would describe Manila as “the gates of hell,” but for those who are brutally beaten, kidnapped, and decapitated, it surely is. In fact, ask the surviving families of those kidnapped and killed in the Philippines about “paradise or safety” in the Philippines and see what answers you would get. I do think that things need to change not only for the traveling public but for the good of humankind as a whole. We recommend that you check this book out now: The Whole Truths You Should Know Before You Travel to the Philippines. http://is.gd/3HcGtG

So, the beautiful imagery that you see on your television screen constantly showing off some of the places of the Philippines exposes just one side, the good and positive side of the island while it keeps hidden the deadly side of the island.  A fair and balanced presentation would address all sides of the coins: The good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s time that the travel industry concentrate on human beings and not just on the dollars; and it’s time that the traveling public wake up and smell the coffee by demanding accountability from the travel industry.

 

Tricycles and Tricycle Driver-Criminals in the Philippines – Watch Out! – by Colbert Bellevue

 Tricycles and Tricycle Driver-Criminals in the Philippines – Watch Out!

In most cities and in all villages in the Philippines, tricycles are ubiquitous. They are used to carry people and merchandise from point A to point B. The function of the tricycle appears to be laudable until you realize that many tricycle drivers (not all) engage in criminality of all sorts. There have been numerous passengers who fell victims to the murderous hands of these three-wheeled vehicle drivers. In April 2011, it was reported that a young girl, age 15, boarded a tricycle en route to her home from school. Just a few meters away from the girl’s home, the tricycle driver took another road leading to a banana field where he beat her and then raped the student repeatedly. As if this ominous act were not enough, he strangled her. The day after, the farmer of that land discovered the girl lying in a pool of blood. Very sad, isn’t it? Nonetheless, the tricycle driver, inadvently, left a piece of his personal belongings on the scene, which allowed the police to track him down. He should have been given the death penalty, but there is no death sentence in the Philippines. Good for the criminals who can kill others mercilessly knowing that the law will allow them to live and bad for law-abiding citizens! And what a dire dichotomy, to say the least! Because of space constraint I cannot list all of the murders committed by tricycle drivers all over the Philippines.

Tricycles Put to Bad Use

Many tricycles in the Philippines have been involved in many crimes, and if only they could talk! Not only some Tricycle drivers use their “trikes” to commit heinous crimes, but also they are paid by gangsters and criminals syndicates to serve as surveillance while these murderers engage in criminal activity. It’s quite difficult to pinpoint who among these tricyle drivers are clean and legally responsible. I think that this is one the main reasons why so many innocent passengers have lost their lives, using this mode of transportation, the tricycle.

WHO DO USE TRICYCLES?

In the Philippines, tricycles are a necessity for many folks: They carry produce from the farm to the market, people from their homes to the market and vice versa. They transport children to and from schools. They serve as ambulance in many localities to carry the sick to the clinics or hospitals. And those who don’t have a car use them as their family vehicles or private tricyles.

AREN’T THEY A THREAT TO TRAFFIC SAFETY?

The law doesn’t allow them to drive on the highways in the Philippines, but this doesn’t keep them from doing so. Compared to motorkibes, tricycles are slow moving vehicles; therefore, when the tricycle drivers take to the highway, they not only slow down the traffic considerably, but more importantly they create a potential hazard to public safety. Moreover, they don’t respect any traffic rules and regulations of the local roads, let alone those of the highways. While a taxi cab is limited to 5 passengers including the driver, a tricycle can carry  9 people! How is that for logic? Additionally, trike drivers are the most careless drivers you can find anywhere. Although some people complain about this, but their complaints have fallen in deaf ear, unfortunately.

WHO OVERSEES THE TRICYCLE OPERATORS?

You wonder why some tricycle drivers who engage in crimes, drive carelessly, and disobey traffic regulations,  are left alone by the police and traffic officers. You wonder why the police or the  traffic officers don’t penalize those over-loaded tricycles while they do summon  taxi drivers who carry more than 5 people in their taxi cab. And what double standard is that! I think that the police or the traffic officers should be responsible to see to it that tricycle drivers follow traffic regulations just like other modes of transportation and that they be searched from now and then for lillegal weapons and drugs. I think that this system is placed on auto-pilot until a new order of things comes up.

For detailed information on criminality in the Philippines, click here: http://is.gd/3HcGtG

Motorcycle-driver Killers a Real Security Threat to Safety in the Philippines–by Colbert Bellevue

Motorcycle-driver Killers a Real Security Threat to Safety in the Philippines

“Road” and the “security threat” are words that are interlinked with each other. In many cities across the Philippines, motorcycle riders are considered real threats to contend with, not only because they make driving a car a nearly impossible task, but also because some of them are real threats to pedestrians and drivers’ safety.

There have been reports indicating that some motorcycle riders are employed as “guns for hire.” To carry out their murderous missions, they’d accost the driver of a car being targeted, pull the trigger, shoot that driver, and then speed away. Some other motorcycle riders use their motorbikes to steal from pedestrians and commit all kinds of murders. Police have a real hard time catching the motorcycle riders/criminals because it is so easy for them to speed away through the maze of heavy traffic without the possibility of being identified.

For instance, in January-February 2012, there have been a number of drive-by-shootings carried out by some motorcycle riders in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, which has alarmed Mayor Rama. Also reported are other drive-by shootings in the Capital City, Manila, Metro manila, and other parts of the Philippines.

Safety Infrastructure Should Be a Priority

Security measures and check points have to be set in place in order to deal with such a delicate issue. On one hand, a person’s life must be protected on the road. On the other hand, motorcycle drivers should not be allowed to threaten the security of any individual. Therefore, motorcycle riders have to remain riders not killers. Certain strategies to deal with such a situation have to be designed, developed, and finally implemented.

Police have to look into the design, the development, and the implementation of the safety and security issues. Numerous checkpoints should be put in key areas around the city and supervised by the police. Checkpoints should also be set up on the outskirts of the city. This process should be on-going in case any substantial change in terms of safety and security to the public would take place. The main purpose of the checkpoints is to search the motorcycle rider and his or her motorbike for illegal drugs and guns.

 What Should Be Done…

There may not be enough “man-power” to service those checkpoints, which should be in operation not only during the day, but also at night time. When there are no law enforcement officers to man a checkpoint, then the motorbike killers seize the occasion to carry their illegal weapons and drugs and go about their killing business with ease. Providing safety on the roads to motorists and passerby is a solemn duty of the law enforcers and the government. As a result, there should be special funds set aside to make sure that the checkpoints operate day and night.

In cities such as Manila and Metro Manila, Angeles, Makati, Cebu City, checkpoints should be made mandatory in order to control crime carried out by these motorbike criminals. I suggest that a motorcycle rider should not be allowed to wear a helmet that hides his or her face. This is one of the main reasons why these heartless bandits have been able to get away with crime.

It is a daunting task for the police to catch motorcycle riders before the commission of a crime particularly if he/she has to go through no checkpoints. The desired results would be to apprehend those motorbike criminals before they strike.

I think that there are two main problems that cause the police to be ineffectual in their quest to stop these motorbike criminals. They are as follows: A) In the Philippines, motorcycle riders are required by law to wear helmets. While these are a safety measure for motorcycle riders, they should not serve to cover up their faces, which hide their facial identity. B) Motorcycle license plates are difficult to read even in day time, let alone during the night. If you are a foreign national visiting the Philippines or if you are a retiree, when you see motorcycle riders around you, be alert and stay safe.

For detailed information, feel free to peruse Colbert’s book or read it for free: Click here http://is.gd/3HcGtG

Kidnappings of Visitors — The Philippines at Center Stage

Kidnappings of Visitors — The Philippines at

Center Stage

“Nothing is as precious as life itself.” Colbert Bellevue

The Philippines has been moving toward center stage because of a number of factors and particularly its two unmistakable sides: A Good Side and a Sad Side.

The good side is that the Philippines offers a venue to the visitors to experience enjoyable moments, savor the natural beauty of its landscape, and have fun. This is the only island that I know of that is comprised of 1,707 small islands, most of which are uninhabitable. The Philippines, as a tropical country, offers an awesome and inspiring panoramic view of several thousands of small islands that seem interconnected so beautifully. If you love water sports and island-hopping, then the Philippines is a real island paradise, second to none, allowing you a sublime experience. I believe that, yes, you can have a great time and memorable moments in the Philippines, provided that certain criteria are met.

The sad side is that the island, which is less than the size of California, is tarnished by several deadly organized criminal groups and senseless killers who make their living by kidnapping foreign visitors. The hard truth is that from time to time, some foreign nationals fall victim to these heartless and senseless thugs in the Philippines. The sad reality is that this trend continues unabated up to this day, due to some regrettably negative factors. Unless you have a good knowledge of the country and an awareness of places that are dangerous to visit, then your life can be in jeopardy.

A case in point, Charlie Reith, a Swiss citizen, was having drinks with his friends when he was kidnapped in the Philippines (true and verifiable story). Jeffrey Schilling, an American citizen, went to the Philippines with his wife to have some good time, but they both were kidnapped (true and verifiable story). Martin and Gracia Burnham, both American citizens, were having a ball in a 5-star resort in the Philippines and were kidnapped (true and verifiable story). Just recently, on February 1, 2012, two foreign nationals were kidnapped in the Philippines (true and verifiable story).

A Video to Watch
The sad fact is that the killing and kidnapping-for-ransom of foreign visitors persist in a number of areas in the Philippines. Unless you are aware of places that should be off-limits to foreign nationals, you and your family might be the next victims. And, this is one mistake you wouldn’t want to make. I believe that all of these visitors mentioned earlier who had been kidnapped should have been alive if they had a chance to watch this video: “Serious about Visiting the Philippines,” and heed this author’s advice. Click on this link to watch the video: http://is.gd/XOajip

This video can help you safeguard your own life literally.  By all means, I suggest that you take a few minutes from your precious time and watch the video.

For detailed, unbiased, and reliable information about, click on this link: Serious about Visiting the Philippines? http://is.gd/XOajip

How Serious Are You about Visiting the Philippines?

 

The Philippines Is Moving Toward Center Stage

The Philippines has been moving toward center stage because of its two unmistakable sides: A Good Side and a Sad Side.

The good side is that the Philippines offers a venue to the visitors to experience enjoyable moments, savor the natural beauty of its landscape, and have some great moments . This is the only island that I know of that is comprised of 1,707 small islands, most of which are uninhabitable. Nonetheless, if you love water sports and island-hopping, then the Philippines is a real island paradise, second to none, but offer a breath-taking site to nature’s lovers. The author believes that, yes, you can have fun in the Philippines.

The sad side is that the island, which is less than the size of California, is tarnished by several deadly organized criminal groups and senseless killers who make their living by kidnapping foreign visitors. The hard truth is that from time to time, some foreign nationals fall victim to these heartless and senseless thugs in the Philippines. The sad reality is that this trend continues unabated up to this day, due to some regrettably negative factors. Unless you have a good knowledge of the country and an awareness of places that are dangerous to visit, then your life can be in jeopardy.

A case in point, Charlie Reith, a Swiss citizen, was having drinks with his friends when he was kidnapped in the Philippines (true and verifiable story). Jeffrey Schilling, an American citizen, went to the Philippines with his wife to have some good time, but they both were kidnapped (true and verifiable story). Martin and Gracia Burnham, both American citizens, were having a ball in a 5-star resort in the Philippines and were kidnapped (true and verifiable story). Just recently, on February 1, 2012, two foreign nationals were kidnapped in the Philippines (true and verifiable story).

The sad fact is that the killing and kidnapping-for-ransom of foreign visitors persist in a number of areas in the Philippines. Unless you are aware of places that should be off-limits to foreign nationals, you and your family might be the next victims. And, this is one mistake you wouldn’t want to make. The author believes that all of these visitors mentioned earlier who had been kidnapped should have been alive today had they had a chance to be well-informed about the Philippines. 

Now you can get unbiased and truthful information you may not find anywhere else about the Philippines and particularly places that should be off-limits to visitors. For detailed information on this subject, feel free to read this vital information by clicking here: http://is.gd/3HcGtG

Don’t Be a Statistic–Be Alert for Your Own Safety and Security in the Philippines

Don’t Be a Statistic–Be Alert for Your Own Safety and Security in the Philippines

Foreign visitors should have a complete and unbiased knowledge of the Philippines: the good, the bad, and the ugly.  As a visitor, you should know that kidnapping for ransom is a common crime in the Philippines. Kidnappers and a large number of  Filipinos perceive “foreigners” as mobile banking institutions, which means they believe all Westerners or any foreign nationals visiting the Philippines are filthy rich. The criminals do not consider robbing them to be a crime; to them, it is just sharing some of the wealth.

This is a fact of life. It is important that visitors be aware of cases wherein some foreigners visiting the Philippines were kidnapped, mugged, or carjacked by criminals. The more knowledgeable you are about the Philippines, the better off you are. If you are serious about traveling to the Philippines, then you should have true-to-fact,unbiased information and relevant knowledge of the country so your trip can be safe, fun, enjoyable, and memorable.

One of the most relevant questions you may ask yourself is, “Do I want to visit the Philippines as a naïve or a well-informed visitor?”  In response to this question, I say, “What you know may save your life, but what you do not know may be lethal to your soul.”

Perhaps you have already read the horrifying news about Jeffrey Schilling, an American citizen who had gone to the Philippines to marry a woman he met online. Unfortunately, he was kidnapped before he had the opportunity to marry his fiancée over there.

Kidnapping-for-ransom is a lucrative criminal activity in the Philippines. More and more visitors have been victimized by senseless killers and deadly gangs. Here is a partial list of the names of some visitors who were badly beaten, kidnapped and, in some cases, killed. This information is totally true and backed by irrefutable and verifiable facts.

•             Martin and Gracia Burnham, American

•             Guillermo Sobero, American

•             Charlie Reith, Swiss citizen

•             Amir Katayama Mamaito, Japanese

•             Jeffrey Schilling, American

•             Carel Strydom, South African

•             Maryse Burgot, French television reporter

•             Marie Moarbes, Lebanese-born French

•             Werner Wallert, German

WARNING: Not only are there kidnappings to contend with, there are also local individuals who do mix drugs in the drinks they serve the visitors. Once the latter consume these drinks, they fall unconscious in a matter of minutes. As a result, the locals take the opportunity to remove the unconscious visitors’ organs.

Just recently, on February 1, 2012, two foreign nationals and a Filipino were kidnapped in the Philippines. The sad fact is that these crimes against foreign visitors persist in a number of areas in the Philippines.

Some, if not all, of these visitors to the Philippines would be alive today had they been warned about the more dangerous areas of the country. You do not have to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Despite these troubling and disturbing facts, they are not intended to discourage you from traveling to the Philippines. To the contrary, I do believe that you can have fun if you are equipped with the most updated, unbiased, reliable, and relevant information about the Philippines.

Be mindful of the fact that there are great tourist areas where you can enjoy your stay and experience memorable moments with peace of mind, but also you will find some areas that should be off-limits to foreign visitors.

You can find the most sought-after information about specific areas that should be off-limits to foreign visitors in a unique eBook: “The Whole Truths You Should Know Before You Travel to the Philippines.”  This eBook is designed to provide you with life-saving information you won’t find anywhere else on the Philippines. You can get a copy of this valuable eBook by clicking here:  http://is.gd/3HcGtG