The Philippines denies being a terrorist training ground after the Bondi Beach attackers visited Mindanao, with officials stating there is no evidence of extremist activity.
MANILA: The Philippines has strongly rejected characterisations of the country as an “ISIS training hotspot” following revelations that the perpetrators of Australia’s Bondi Beach mass shooting visited last month.
Presidential spokeswoman Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos “strongly rejects the sweeping statement and the misleading characterisation” of the nation.
She stated no evidence supports claims the country was used for terrorist training.
“There is no validated report or confirmation that individuals involved in the Bondi Beach incident received any form of training in the Philippines,” Castro added, reading from a National Security Council statement.
The country’s immigration office confirmed Sajid Akram and his son Naveed entered on November 1 headed for the southern province of Davao.
The father and son killed 15 people and wounded dozens at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
The island of Mindanao, where Davao is located, has a history of Islamist insurgencies.
Australian authorities are investigating whether the two men met with extremists during their trip.
The Philippine military said armed Muslim groups on Mindanao have been largely degraded since the 2017 siege of Marawi.
That five-month battle against pro-Islamic State militants claimed more than 1,000 lives.
“We have not recorded any major terrorist operations or training activities… since the beginning of 2024,” military spokeswoman Colonel Francel Padilla said.
She added the insurgent groups are now fragmented and lack leadership.
Colonel Xerxes Trinidad told reporters the 30-day visit would not have provided adequate time for significant training.
“Training cannot be acquired in just 30 days … especially if you are to undergo marksmanship,” he said.
However, Manila-based security analyst Rommel Banlaoi said while many groups are “on the run”, they are far from eradicated.
“There are still many active training camps in (central) Mindanao,” he told AFP, adding weakened movements maintain connections online.
