Japan's Intelligence Warns of Possible Terrorist Attacks in the Philippines

On September 13, Japan warned its citizens of a possible terrorist attack that could happen in six Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, advising them to stay away from religious sites and gatherings. 

According to the Japanese foreign ministry, they obtained information of possible attacks, saying “there are increased risks such as suicide bombings.” 

besides the Philippines, other countries of particular concern are Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. 

Avoid Places of Worship and Sites  of Large Gatherings

The Japanese embassy in Kuala Lumpur issued a warning to Japanese citizens about suicide bombings. 

“There is information that there is an increasing possibility that suicide bomb attacks will occur in places where many people gather, such as places of worship. We ask all Japanese residents to remain vigilant against terrorist attacks,” it said. 

But it is not only religious sites that are threatened. 

The warning cited intelligence reports and that attacks could also target large gatherings in the region.

Japanese Citizens in the Philippines

According to Statista, there were close to 18,000 Japanese citizens in the Philippines in 2019. No data was available for 2020 and 2021. 

Meanwhile, there were an estimated 26,500 Japanese citizens residing in Malaysia, 19,400 in Indonesia, 2,800 in Myanmar, 79,000 in Thailand, and 37,000 in Singapore, according to Statista’s reports. 

The warnings issued to the Japanese citizens in these countries came straight from Tokyo. 

“We issued the advisory following instructions from Tokyo,” the Japanese embassy in Malaysia told New Straits Times. The embassy did not elaborate further. 

No details were given about the origin of the intelligence report. 

DFA Has no Information on Threats

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the Philippines has told the Associated Press (AP) it has no knowledge of information about possible terrorist attacks referred to by the Japanese foreign ministry.