(un)security in Manila

The Security-guy in front of the hotel. See the shotgun? It looked used. To get to the hotel, you have to pass two security checks: At the first one they check the car, especially the trunk (for bombs and other ugly stuff), and then in front of the hotel they check the luggage and every single person that looks worth a check. Nearly the same procedure applied to the LTP-Airbase, where Military Police made the checks. There we had three checkpoints. And from the entrance of the airport to the aircraft I passed 4 checks. You see, Safety is a big problem in Manila, and there are parts of the city that are strictly no-go, mainly the slums. But on the main routes and in the wealthy parts of the city it is quite safe. To me, it was just scary to see all these armed people, even in front of the restaurant we went to in the evening.