The Philippines denies its territory was used for terrorist training by the Bondi Beach gunmen, citing no evidence of such activity during their November visit.
MANILA: The Philippines has rejected claims it was used as a terrorist training ground for the perpetrators of Australia’s Bondi Beach mass shooting.
Presidential spokeswoman Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos strongly rejects the characterisation of the Philippines as an ISIS training hotspot.
“No evidence has been presented to support claims that the country was used for terrorist training,” she stated, reading from a National Security Council statement.
The country’s immigration office confirmed the father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram, entered the Philippines on November 1.
They travelled to the southern province of Davao on the island of Mindanao, a region with 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.
“We have not recorded any major terrorist operations or training activities since the beginning of 2024,” military spokeswoman Colonel Francel Padilla said.
Colonel Xerxes Trinidad noted the duo’s 30-day visit would not provide adequate time for significant training.
Security analyst Rommel Banlaoi cautioned that while insurgent groups are fragmented, training camps in central Mindanao remain active. – AFP
