Bubo philippensis is rare and threatened at least partly as a result of extensive lowland habitat destruction, possibly also hunting.
Bubo philippensis occurs in lower elevation forest, often near water, in Luzon and Catanduanes (nominate race), Samar, Leyte and Mindanao (mindanensis) in the Philippines. A range extension occurred in January 1994 to Bohol. The very few recent records have all been from Luzon.
Bubo philippensis is listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN Red List.