2 Japanese tourists shot dead in Philippines

Local investigators said the victims, in their 40s and 50s, were staying at a nearby hotel, according to The Asahi Shimbun.

The shooting took place around 10:40 p.m. as they exited a taxi in an entertainment area known for karaoke bars, restaurants, and hotels frequented by tourists, Mainichi Shimbun reported.

Witnesses said an assailant approached the men, opened fire, and fled on a motorcycle after stealing their belongings.

Police announced Monday that two suspects had been detained in connection with the killings, though the motive remains under investigation.

Since October, about 20 robberies involving Japanese nationals have been reported in the greater Manila area.

The Japanese Embassy has urged its citizens to avoid walking at night and not to resist in the event of a robbery.

South Korean tourists, the largest group of foreign visitors to the Philippines, have also been victims of fatal shootings in the country in recent months.

A recent survey by U.K. financial comparison site HelloSafe ranked the Philippines as the world’s most dangerous country but the list was later removed following backlash from Philippines' tourism insiders who dismissed the results as "biased and misleading."