We visited the new shopping center in Mandurriao (Iloilo suburban area). The shopping center has four floors each with dozens of shops.
The security inspection was tight. There was a security checkpoint at the outside door of the shopping center. There was armed guards standing behind you while a security officer checked your bags. One false move and your kidneys are blown away with a shotgun. At least that was the feeling because the guards did not much smile and for sure I did not even dare to try to take a photograph of them.
After passing this security checkpoint and entering the shopping center we noticed that almost all the shops still had their own security checkpoints. So if you wanted to enter some shop you had to go through another security inspection before entering the shop.
The local people said that the security issues had become more of a concern because of the ongoing kidnapping drama in Jolo island.