Recently, the security issues in the Philippines have once again attracted attention, prompting the Chinese government to issue travel and study abroad safety warnings, urging Chinese citizens and students in the Philippines to remain highly vigilant. The travel safety alert jointly issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, along with the study abroad warning No. 3 of 2025 issued by the Ministry of Education, once again highlight the complexity and potential risks of the social security environment in the Philippines.
According to official reports, the social security situation in the Philippines has been continuously unstable recently, with Chinese citizens frequently encountering serious incidents. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines remind Chinese residents to enhance their safety awareness, avoid areas with chaotic security, and take necessary protective measures to reduce risks to personal safety and property. Additionally, Chinese citizens planning to travel to the Philippines should carefully assess the security situation before arranging their itinerary and make cautious decisions.
The latest study abroad warning issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education points out that the security environment in the Philippines has deteriorated, with students frequently becoming targets of crime, making it difficult to ensure their safety in study and life. The Ministry of Education advises those studying in the Philippines to strengthen risk assessments and carefully plan their studies and living arrangements to avoid danger. Notably, this is a reiteration of the warning about the study environment in the Philippines following the second warning issued on July 18.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the purpose of issuing the study abroad warning is to effectively protect the safety and rights of Chinese students. He called on the Philippine side to take effective measures to ensure the personal safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens in the Philippines are not violated. In emergency situations, Chinese citizens can dial the Philippine emergency police number 911, or contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' global consular protection and service emergency hotline 0086-10-12308 / 0086-10-65612308. The emergency contact numbers of Chinese embassies and consulates in the Philippines have also been published, reminding compatriots and students to remain vigilant and ensure they can get help promptly.
However, the risks caused by local law enforcement actions in the Philippines are still concerning. Recently, a Chinese man in Manila was detained by the police after disputing an excessively high bill at a bar, and was accused of carrying a small amount of drugs. More bizarrely, his friend tried to bribe for his release, but was also arrested for using counterfeit money and a rental car, and additional charges of "bribery" and "assaulting police" were added. This incident has been described by insiders as "trap-style law enforcement," particularly targeting foreigners, with night outings being very likely to be set up, detained, or extorted.
It is reported that the man himself was very wronged. The incident was merely a bar dispute, but the police used the opportunity to solicit bribes, demanding a high "protection fee," and ultimately detained him on drug charges, while another involved party who paid the fee was released. Insiders point out that such incidents are not isolated in the Philippines:
A Taiwanese student was caught with a small amount of drugs during a dormitory night check and was forced to pay a high "bail fee";
Chinese tourists have been framed for traffic violations and extorted for hundreds of thousands of pesos;
Legitimate Chinese businesses may also encounter extortion under the guise of tax, fire, or safety regulations.
Nights and holidays are particularly high-risk periods, with some police officers using various means to force foreigners to pay hefty "fines" or "protection fees." "Under the eaves, one has to bow down," in the Philippines, this often means "being at risk of losing everything at any moment."
Currently, the two Chinese men are still detained, and the investigation of the case is ongoing. This incident once again reminds Chinese people in the Philippines: be extremely cautious when traveling at night, and be careful with consumption and investment, or you might instantly fall into a nightmarish situation.
