4 Kidnapped on Samal Island, Philippines

[coa24 69]

If you are planning to go to the Philippines anytime soon, take extra vigilance, not that you don't already, when you visit. In this latest kidnapping that happened this past Monday were two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipino (a Filipina that was dating one of the kidnapped). Just this past August I was on Samal Island, we visited Costa Marina and Paradise Island. In January we visited Hagamit Falls. Scary to think that a place you visited is the location of a kidnapping and to have it happen so close to Davao City is also crazy. Hopefully they are all safe...I am sure they want money.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/22/four-kidnapped-philippines-resort/72608004/

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/asia/philippines-kidnapping/index.html

[Shauneg 762]

I told you that you were brave going there......

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

What I know of everything there is that it was the NPA who kidnapped them in retaliation for a death of their commander. I keep hearing about ABU ABU well sorry to let people down but Muslims aka the Bajau are on Samal Island and not in ComVal or Davao Oriental. It is primarily the NPA that have a presence in that area.

I may be wrong but that's what I know about that right now. I will go directly to my source in Davao City to see if he has any more info than that.

I know it is sad about that because I have been to Samal Island as well and I loved it there. I have been to Pearl Farm and Blue Jazz, both times I had a good amount of fun with my in laws. You just have to make sure you stay vigilant at all times.

If you are planning to go to the Philippines anytime soon, take extra vigilance, not that you don't already, when you visit. In this latest kidnapping that happened this past Monday were two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipino (a Filipina that was dating one of the kidnapped). Just this past August I was on Samal Island, we visited Costa Marina and Paradise Island. In January we visited Hagamit Falls. Scary to think that a place you visited is the location of a kidnapping and to have it happen so close to Davao City is also crazy. Hopefully they are all safe...I am sure they want money.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/22/four-kidnapped-philippines-resort/72608004/

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/asia/philippines-kidnapping/index.html

You should come to Compostela Valley with me when I go there next year.

[coa24 69]

Need to go there actually, since my wife's family is from there...and I have yet to meet her extended family. We just filed the AOS so maybe by then we will be good to go on the AP and AOS front.

Edited September 24, 2015 by coa24

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Need to go there actually, since my wife's family is from there...and I have yet to meet her extended family. We just filed the AOS so maybe by then we will be good to go on the AP and AOS front.

I remember talking to you about that before. Where in ComVal is her family from? Yeah, we went when my asawa's ROC was still in process and had a really good time like always. I keep telling my wife we need to find a house up there or in Tagum City somewhere. How did you like Paradise Island? My wife liked it there when she went with family for a reunion.

[coa24 69]

I told you that you were brave going there......

Thanks Shauneg, when do you plan to file AOS?

For me I always considered Samal as part of Davao.

Cyberfx1024, that was my understanding as well about the NPA. I know they are trying to say it isn't them, but....

[coa24 69]

I remember talking to you about that before. Where in ComVal is her family from? Yeah, we went when my asawa's ROC was still in process and had a really good time like always. I keep telling my wife we need to find a house up there or in Tagum City somewhere. How did you like Paradise Island? My wife liked it there when she went with family for a reunion.

Her family is from Maragusan near Mapawa. Paradise is really nice, mostly commercialized. I actually like Costa Marina better because of less people. Which is right beside Paradise. Either way it makes for a really good day trip.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Her family is from Maragusan near Mapawa. Paradise is really nice, mostly commercialized. I actually like Costa Marina better because of less people. Which is right beside Paradise. Either way it makes for a really good day trip.

Ohhh ok my wife is from New Bataan. I asked her once if she has ever been to Maragusan and she said no which I thought was weird but then I found out it's over the mountains. There used to be a highway going from New Bataan to Maragusan but it got washed out due to Typhoon Pablo, and it's now just a dirt road part of way there.

[VOL 425]

Look like a inside job, one guy is in mining there and the other guy owns/operate a resort, This was planned to extort money from them.

I don't see this as a terrorist plot that was launched on tourist, it appears as if this has to do with them working and living there

[VOL 425]

The beaches on Samal kinda suxs anyways, Blue Jazz/Paradise Beach etc are not much to talk about

I do like Hagmit Falls, but it seems they are trying to commercialize it the last few years, kinda taking away it's natural beauty.

The bat caves are pretty cool to check out there. I have been to Samal numerous times, as of now I see no reason to stay away

Edited September 25, 2015 by VOL

[VOL 425]

I told you that you were brave going there......

If you are worried about samal you can get a body guard like a PNP officer for a few hundred peso, and he will carry gun and you can carry pistol if he is body guarding you.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

The beaches on Samal kinda suxs anyways, Blue Jazz/Paradise Beach etc are not much to talk about

I do like Hagmit Falls, but it seems they are trying to commercialize it the last few years, kinda taking away it's natural beauty.

The bat caves are pretty cool to check out there. I have been to Samal numerous times, as of now I see no reason to stay away

I agree Blue jazz does pretty much suck. You should try staying at Pearl Farm it is a hell of alot better than Blue Jazz.

If you are worried about samal you can get a body guard like a PNP officer for a few hundred peso, and he will carry gun and you can carry pistol if he is body guarding you.

Yeah I know what you mean about having a body guard. Usually if we have a big get together and my brother in law comes he has a bodyguard with him that accompanies us. He does this because he is a local politician and businessman.