MANILA: When reports of an assault by Israeli tourists at a restaurant in Siargao made headlines nationwide, it was not the first such incident on the southern Philippine island in recent months. This time, however, it went viral, prompting an increasing number of Filipino influencers to call for a crackdown on visitors from Israel to stop harassment and abuse of local businesses and rules.
Incident at Cartoon Resto Cafe
On May 11, two Israeli visitors were reported to have assaulted the owners of Cartoon Resto Cafe in Siargao, allegedly because it displayed a Palestinian flag. While the cafe owners have not been available for comment, fellow business owners have described the incident to the media. Elie Rasa, a Siargao resident and restaurant owner, told Arab News: "The Israelis trespassed, they destroyed the CCTV camera, and then destroyed some of the stuff inside the cafe as well, and then hurt the owners. They have a video of the faces from a hidden CCTV camera. They turned it over to the police, but the police didn't find the suspects."
Rising Concerns for Tourism
Siargao is one of the Philippines' most popular surfing sites, known for its beaches and lagoons, attracting both local and international visitors year-round. There are fears that the incidents of violence, which have been on the rise over the past few years, could soon affect the island's appeal among tourists. Rasa added: "The ones who want to go to Siargao are thinking of rescheduling their trip because they heard there are unruly or violent Israelis there now. I don't want that to be the image of Siargao. Tourism-wise, it's not good."
Pattern of Abuse
While neither the local police nor the Bureau of Immigration responded to requests for comment, the Cartoon Resto Cafe case has prompted a growing number of business owners to come forward with similar accounts of abuse and threats involving Israeli tourists. Lawyer Regal Oliva, who has 2.3 million followers on Facebook, said: "There is a pattern emerging and we cannot keep pretending it is just isolated incidents. In Siargao, there have been documented complaints from locals: verbal abuse, entitlement, reckless behavior, and open disrespect for community norms." Her video, which gained over 3.5 million views since May 18, accused Israeli visitors of calling locals maids or slaves, driving aggressively, trashing rentals, ignoring curfews, and acting as if rules don't apply to them. Oliva asserted that she and others were not anti-Jewish, but stressed that everyone visiting the Philippines must be bound by Philippine laws and rules.
Calls for Action
Other Filipino content creators have called on local authorities to be more decisive in protecting their community. Mathilda Airlines, with over 1.2 million TikTok followers, said: "While we are being very welcoming, we should also impose effective laws that protect the dignity of our indigenous population. Illegal occupiers have no place in any corners of Siargao." She addressed Israeli visitors: "Stop acting like you own the land. Stop treating the locals as your slaves, and comply with local ordinances such as curfews and environmental protection policies."
Earlier Concerns
Concerns over the presence of Israelis on the island gained nationwide attention in May last year when local residents opposed Israeli plans to open a Chabad house, a Jewish community center and place of worship. Despite warnings from the Bureau of Immigration that foreigners violating Philippine laws could be deported and permanently blacklisted, reports of misconduct involving Israeli tourists continued to surface on local online forums. Filipino influencer Edward Angelo, whose Instagram video got 1.4 million views, warned: "I'm not saying all Israelis are like this, but based on recent videos and complaints, you can see the pattern. I think it's time to protect the locals, protect small businesses, and protect Siargao."
