Brit Savagely Murdered in Philippines

[Ako Si Jamie]

Obviously not every foreigner that owns a business in the Philippines gets murdered although they are probably at a higher risk than those who don't.

Perhaps a key factor is how one interacts with the locals and the ability to diffuse a possible conflict if need be. Maybe Jake's never had a problem because his social skills are very good. Could be the Scottish charm.

I think a lot of it boils down to respect. For instance if a foreigner comes to the Phils thinking he's the lord and sees the locals as peasants he's going to make enemies because he doesn't show them any. The same could be said about those who open a business without a thought for similar businesses in the area. Muscling in on someone else's turf will cause friction, not just in the Phils, but anywhere.

[raynaputi]

I think a lot of it boils down to respect. For instance if a foreigner comes to the Phils thinking he's the lord and sees the locals as peasants he's going to make enemies because he doesn't show them any. The same could be said about those who open a business without a thought for similar businesses in the area. Muscling in on someone else's turf will cause friction, not just in the Phils, but anywhere.

This!

[Ako Si Jamie]

After reading all these posts, I will now feel a little uneasy when I go to Philippines again, just won't talk to anyone!

But can you sustain a month long tampo, Michael?

[jake]

Obviously not every foreigner that owns a business in the Philippines gets murdered although they are probably at a higher risk than those who don't.

Perhaps a key factor is how one interacts with the locals and the ability to diffuse a possible conflict if need be. Maybe Jake's never had a problem because his social skills are very good. Could be the Scottish charm.

I think a lot of it boils down to respect. For instance if a foreigner comes to the Phils thinking he's the lord and sees the locals as peasants he's going to make enemies because he doesn't show them any. The same could be said about those who open a business without a thought for similar businesses in the area. Muscling in on someone else's turf will cause friction, not just in the Phils, but anywhere.

Good post Jamie. My social skills are crap but i do try to respect everyone i meet whether they are rich or poor.
Anybody who owns a business local or foreigner in a poorer country is at a higher risk. You would be daft to think otherwise.

[Tawi2]

i met a guy years ago who was shot in pinas,but he was a bit of a oddball,prostitute pool parties in angeles and had an "Internet" biz in angeles when cam-girls were just starting the reports i read about him in the brit press didnt mention any of this easiest just to blend in and dont create ripples

[grahamw48]

Lots of dodgy characters in Angeles. I used to live there.

[London_Manila]

Obviously not every foreigner that owns a business in the Philippines gets murdered although they are probably at a higher risk than those who don't.

Perhaps a key factor is how one interacts with the locals and the ability to diffuse a possible conflict if need be. Maybe Jake's never had a problem because his social skills are very good. Could be the Scottish charm.

I think a lot of it boils down to respect. For instance if a foreigner comes to the Phils thinking he's the lord and sees the locals as peasants he's going to make enemies because he doesn't show them any. The same could be said about those who open a business without a thought for similar businesses in the area. Muscling in on someone else's turf will cause friction, not just in the Phils, but anywhere.

Maybe but behaving like Mr nice guy all the time is not always going to work in your favour
I would imagine many people who end up being murdered in the Philippines don't know their attackers and have never interacted with them also
I treat all people in a respectful manner and I certainly don't go looking for trouble

[London_Manila]

After reading all these posts, I will now feel a little uneasy when I go to Philippines again, just won't talk to anyone!

If you don't interact with the locals then you can't get into any conflict with them

[London_Manila]

Lots of dodgy characters in Angeles. I used to live there.

The murder rate for whities in Pampanga is alarming

[London_Manila]

Where did I say it was a cakewalk?
Starting and running a successful business in any country is hard work. If it was that easy everybody would do it!
I have met a few foreigners with a huge wedge of cash, and grand ideas of doing business in the Philippines their way. Most end up going home broke and blame it on someone else. They seem to easily forget they never spent anytime actually running the business.
You seem to be an expert on business in the Philippines. Tell me exactly how long did ‘you’ run a computer shop in Makati? I’m also curious to know how long you lived here and in what areas? I respect your privacy, however giving a rough idea would suffice!

I also had a chicken farm in Bicol as well so that makes 2 businesses I have owned there

[Ako Si Jamie]

Lots of dodgy characters in Angeles. I used to live there.

The murder rate for whities in Pampanga is alarming

I've found that certain places in the Phils have a bit of a negative atmosphere to them. To an extent, Sipalay City in Negros and Puerto Galera in Mindoro, but significantly, cities in Pampanga - notably Angeles and San Fernando. I found it OK around the malls in Angeles, but once in the vicinity of Fields Avenue, I noticed I was getting eyeballed by fellow whiteys quite a bit.

[jake]

I also had a chicken farm in Bicol as well so that makes 2 businesses I have owned there

Busy man. I am sure plenty of forum members have invested in chicken farms, piggeries, jeeps computer shops etc, over the years. Even had a few hundred quid in a piggery myself, whilst living in another country Waited and waited for the money to start rolling in but it never

Did you run it from your London head office?

[jake]

I would imagine many people who end up being murdered in the Philippines don't know their attackers and have never interacted with them also

I would say the complete opposite. In any country a large percentage of victims know their attackers. In the Philippines, I think it may be even higher. Read the post from Fred on the subject.

[stevewool]

WOW I am so glad I am not thinking of becoming a businessman, do you think that will give me a better chance of living longer over in the Phils?

[grahamw48]

The murder rate for whities in Pampanga is alarming

I agree. Almost certainly the worst in the Phils...and have any of the murderers ever been caught ? Of course the area also has the biggest expat population, so the figures probably reflect this, but need to be on your guard, nonetheless.

[London_Manila]

I would say the complete opposite. In any country a large percentage of victims know their attackers. In the Philippines, I think it may be even higher. Read the post from Fred on the subject.

Most of the deaths I have read about normally involves whitey being stabbed to death in his own residence after some break in
They break in to steal things but if whitey happens to be at home then they will kill whitey without hesitation
They dont seem to take a chance when its comes to being identified at a later date so its best if whitey is dealt with

[London_Manila]

WOW I am so glad I am not thinking of becoming a businessman, do you think that will give me a better chance of living longer over in the Phils?

Not really as you may still be a target just because you have more money
No point in breaking into a local's house to steal a couple of cans of Red Horse when whitey down the road will have a nice laptop and mobile phone up for grabs

[London_Manila]

Busy man. I am sure plenty of forum members have invested in chicken farms, piggeries, jeeps computer shops etc, over the years. Even had a few hundred quid in a piggery myself, whilst living in another country Waited and waited for the money to start rolling in but it never

Did you run it from your London head office?

Poultry prices in the Phills makes rearing chickens unsustainable
I was living near Naga city when i had the chickens
I like to be hands on and did not trust the locals who would try and steal my chicks if i was not around
Dismissed many workers who thought it was ok to help themselves when they felt like it

[stevewool]

Not really as you may still be a target just because you have more money
No point in breaking into a local's house to steal a couple of cans of Red Horse when whitey down the road will have a nice laptop and mobile phone up for grabs

, have you seen my phone and laptop i have here, the laptop is switched on and i have made a cup of tea and sat down and its just about fired itself up, so over there its going to be the same items

[grahamw48]

Unfortunately the robbers don't know that Steve. We're all (poriners) presumed to be millionaires with houses full of treasure.

So, stay safe.

[Ako Si Jamie]

It'll be interesting to know who has lived in the Philippines and had their place robbed and who hasn't. Has anyone not been robbed and just had basic security?

Maybe not all whiteys are deemed to be rich. Maybe a robber has to see the dangling carrot before committing the crime.

[grahamw48]

My place in Angeles was robbed (well...looted) after the Pinatubo eruption. I was just living with a g/f at that time though...no family.

Other than that, never had any problems when living there with my family, but we did have a fantastic guard dog, and I went round the house fitting proper locks, brought over from the UK, also steel lining, door bars etc, and (fake) CCTV cams.

[Tawi2]

It'll be interesting to know who has lived in the Philippines and had their place robbed and who hasn't. Has anyone not been robbed and just had basic security?
:

We have full time security at the beach and my kids uncle has a decent sized arsenal and has despatched a few neer'do'wells in the past so we never had any problems,lots of petty crime outside the beach,last 2 weeks in toril a guy was stabbed in a drunken brawl and a 14 year old girl was raped

[jonnijon]

My place in Angeles was robbed (well...looted) after the Pinatubo eruption. I was just living with a g/f at that time though...no family.

Other than that, never had any problems when living there with my family, but we did have a fantastic guard dog, and I went round the house fitting proper locks, brought over from the UK, also steel lining, door bars etc, and (fake) CCTV cams.

I have real CCTV, never any problems here

[London_Manila]

Unfortunately the robbers don't know that Steve. We're all (poriners) presumed to be millionaires with houses full of treasure.

So, stay safe.

Spot on

[London_Manila]

, have you seen my phone and laptop i have here, the laptop is switched on and i have made a cup of tea and sat down and its just about fired itself up, so over there its going to be the same items

As Graham has already stated you are a whitey so they will presume that you must have lots of money and your home is full of the latest electrical luxury gadgets

[London_Manila]

It'll be interesting to know who has lived in the Philippines and had their place robbed and who hasn't. Has anyone not been robbed and just had basic security?

Maybe not all whiteys are deemed to be rich. Maybe a robber has to see the dangling carrot before committing the crime.

Put yourself in their position
You are about to break into someones house and steal some items
50 houses in front of you and one is owned by a whitey
Which house would you imagine holds the most treasure ?

[Michael Parnham]

Wow, after reading these posts about having security etc, no wouldn't want to live like that also looking over ones shoulder I would be living in fear, don't think I could go to Philippines again never mind living there. I've now been to Philippines many times and never given a thought to any of the issues mentioned on this thread, if I had come across or heard any of the things that have been talked about on here I wouldn't have thought of having anything to do with Philippines!

[Terpe]

In a recent survey Davao City was placed at the 4th safest city in the world.

Don't take too much to heart about the negatives.
The statistics don't support alarmist anecdotes at all.

Be happy and enjoy your holidays just as you always have.

[Ako Si Jamie]

I think it boils down to opportunism in most cases. Give someone the opportunity to rob you and they will regardless of the country you're in and it doesn't matter whether you're rich, poor, British or Filipino etc.

I remember about ten years ago I parked outside a shop here in the UK to get some cigarettes but I didn't lock my door. I was gone for 60 secs max but that was enough time for the car stereo to get swiped.

Back to the Philippines. It's a poor country and people get paid peanuts so theft is common. It's the nature of the beast. I've heard of tourists going to beaches & waterfalls and leaving their belongings unattended while they go for a dip. When they return their stuff is gone.

I was robbed myself in the Phils but that was my own stupid fault for wearing a gold chain but saying that I had been to the Phils three times previously wearing the same gold chain without any problems.

Personally I don't see the Philippines being a problem destination for tourists or expats so long as common sense is used, boats don't get rocked, and advice from others who have worn the t-shirt is taken on board.