•On the night of November 2, an armed robbery targeting a Japanese national occurred in the Bel-Air area in Makati City, Metro Manila. The assailants appeared to use a handgun in the incident.
•Please exercise extreme caution when traveling on foot at night.
•In case of a robbery, prioritize your safety above all else and avoid any resistance.
•Be aware that similar crimes tend to increase as the Christmas season approaches, so take extra precautions when going out.
1. Incident Details
On the night of November 2, an armed robbery targeting a Japanese national took place on the streets in the eastern part of Bel-Air, Makati City, Metro Manila.
•Date and Time: November 2 (Saturday), around 9:00 p.m.
•Details: While walking along Jupiter Street in Bel-Air, Makati City (near the Board of Investments), two Japanese nationals were approached by two motorcycles that stopped in front of them. Several individuals dismounted and brandished what appeared to be handguns, demanding that the Japanese nationals hand over their bags. One individual showed hesitation in handing over his bag and was subsequently struck on the head and wrist with the gun’s grip. The assailants then pointed the gun at the other Japanese national, demanding his bag again, which led him to hand over a bag containing his passport and wallet.
2. Precautionary Measures for Residents, Travelers, and Business Visitors in the Philippines
A similar incident occurred recently in Makati City. Japanese residents, tourists, and business visitors in the Philippines are advised to keep the following precautions in mind:
1.Limit Nighttime Foot Travel: Keep in mind that crime rates tend to be higher at night and early morning, especially as the Christmas season approaches in the Philippines. Whenever possible, avoid walking at night, even for short distances, and consider vehicle transportation. If walking is unavoidable, exercise heightened caution.
2.Avoid Resistance in Robbery Situations: Assume that the assailant may be armed, avoid any resistance, and prioritize your safety by staying calm. For instance, quickly reaching into a pocket or bag could be mistaken as a counterattack, potentially triggering aggression. Instead, calmly inform the assailant where valuables are located (e.g., “it’s in my pocket”) or point to them without sudden movements to let the assailant retrieve the items themselves.
3.Street Safety Precautions: When walking outdoors, stay on the inner side of the sidewalk, away from the street, and carry your bag on the side opposite the road. Limit your belongings to essentials, distribute valuables in different places, and take measures to minimize potential losses if a crime occurs. (In this incident, the victim’s passport and wallet were stolen, but since his phone wasn’t in the bag, it wasn’t taken. Additionally, he avoided carrying cards, keeping only cash in his wallet, which helped limit his losses.)
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