Embassy Warns Americans of Manila Danger
Americans are in danger of being attacked if they frequent Manila’s Ermita entertainment district, a U.S. Embassy spokesman said Saturday.
The warning came amid continuing threats by the Communist New People’s Army to kill or kidnap U.S. nationals unless Washington dismantles its six military bases in the Philippines.
Embassy spokesman Stanley Schrager said U.S. officials received an “unconfirmed threat” against Americans in Ermita, the half-mile strip of bars that serves as Manila’s red-light district.
“Its hard to tell if the threat is valid or serious, but we have an obligation to let Americans know so they can take precautions,” Schrager said.
Armed forces chief Gen. Renato de Villa on Friday ordered troops in Negros province to suspend all military operations to allow civilian negotiators to secure the release of American Timothy Swanson and Fumio Mizuno of Japan, both kidnaped by the NPA.
Swanson, 26, a Peace Corps volunteer from Cheyenne, Wyo., was kidnaped June 13 on Negros Island, 300 miles south of Manila.
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