Let's see what happens after the attacks in Manila today.

"Don't worry if you're not going farther from Manila than Bohol or Cebu or Palawan. Things are lively and optimistic in the capital and major cities, which are mostly booming with modern development. The bad events are in peripheral areas."

Words to remember.

Indeed, I've stayed at that Resort World complex (Marriott Manila) several times. It's quite disquieting.

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Lone wolves can strike in any capital they can reach, but this attack appears to be a botched robbery. Which is a shame, as the area is rising with more modern developments.

The government is saying botched robbery. Isis again today claimed responsibility. As far as i am concerned what is the difference at this point. 37 dead and many more injured from one gunman at a well known tourist spot? Calls into question their ability to handle these situations. No way are those type of numbers when it comes to deaths acceptable.

What it also calls into question, IMO, is the crappy/non-existent fire suppression system at a casino/hotel that would permit that much fire/smoke.

And that's really a bigger risk than robbery/terrorist attack.

[Discussion reserved for FlyerTalk's political discussion forums edited by Moderator.]

Exactly. All the deaths seem to have been from fire/smoke inhalation. It doesn't seem like the robber shot anyone. There is a big difference there.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/02/asia/m...ims/index.html

It is a tragedy, but if there were no fatalities from the shooter, I think the response was good. The fire suppression system not being enough is definitely a problem.

I don't agree that it makes a difference whether or not the guy shot anyone. The reality was he was able to get a rifle into an area that should have been protected. That he was able to start fires and was able to evade the police long enough to go to a room and set fire to himself etc. There apparently was nothing that would have stopped him from shooting the patrons of the casino if he was so inclined, so the idea that the deaths are from smoke doesn't make this much better IMO. People are dead because of this man's actions and if the response had been adequate they would have prevented his entry into the location with a weapon and certainly have limited the amount of fire he set. Security failed no matter how you look at it. The lack of adequate sprinklers etc is just yet another way people were at risk. The reporting is many of the people died because they did not get out. Why did they not get out? Because this guy was running around firing a gun and they were scared of being shot. If he had been neutralized more quickly or at least if the location had been secured more quickly people could have been evacuated.

And he was carrying two litres of gasoline along with that rifle?

Who was this guy? Like seriously who does this?

Some valid points here. It's good that the authorities say it wasn't a terror attack. [Moderator edit.] But, the bad news is that a gunman got inside via an unsecured parking lobby just as in the Nairobi Westgate mall attack. [Moderator edit.]

OK, got it.

Apparently, he was a former government official who was fired and barred from employment for corruption. He probably hoped to rob his way out of massive gambling debts but unexpectedly got many killed, which could have triggered his suicide.

He must have watched too many Hollywood caper movies.

No a copycat:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11055015

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/a...hostage-crisis

It is a Deja Vu as the two incidents bear many similarities. Dismissed government official with an axe to grind, botched handling by the various PH police forces.

RWorld is not so hot, i generally avoid it even before this happened.

marawi gonna be done and over with soon.

business as usual. if anything it is probably more secure now.

The Underground River is an easy day trip from Puerto Princesa city, Palawan Island. There is a limit of just under 1000 on the number of visitors per day. I went before this was implemented, but it appears hotels and B & bs are able to easily source 'tickets.'

Philippine Airlines has just resumed nonstop flights to Kuala Lumpur from Manila, and from memory Malaysia Airlines also operate that route. There are quite a few flights from Cebu down to Singapore and Cebu is highly recommended as a stress free airport (it's on an island called Mactan) to get into or out of Philippines.