• Philippines denies any evidence of terrorist training linked to the Bondi Beach attack.
• Father-son duo stayed in Davao, Mindanao, from November 1-28, 2025.
• Philippine officials declare claims of extremist ties as outdated and misleading.

The Philippines has firmly rejected claims that the country served as a training ground for the suspects involved in the recent Bondi Beach attack in Australia, where 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año stated there is "no evidence" suggesting that the alleged perpetrators underwent any form of military training while in the Philippines, emphasizing that a mere visit does not equate to terrorist training. His comments follow reports that raised concerns over the men’s stay in Davao, a region historically plagued by Islamist insurgency, according to thejakartapost, channelnewsasia, scmp, aljazeera, and reuters.

The two suspects, Sajid and Naveed Akram, were reportedly in the Philippines from November 1 to 28, during which they primarily stayed within their hotel in Davao. Reports indicate they seldom ventured out, raising questions about the credibility of training claims. Año pointed out that the duration of their visit was insufficient for any meaningful military training, a sentiment echoed by the Philippine military, which stated that significant operations by extremist groups in the area have been largely diminished since the 2017 Marawi siege. The Philippine military spokeswoman confirmed a lack of major terrorist activities noted since the beginning of 2024, according to thejakartapost, channelnewsasia, scmp, aljazeera, and reuters.

Furthermore, Año criticized portrayals of the southern Philippines as a "hotspot for violent extremism" as misleading and outdated. He stated that remnants of insurgent groups have been "fragmented and deprived of leadership" since the significant military actions taken against them over the past few years. Rommel Banlaoi, a Manila-based security analyst, acknowledged that while remnants exist, the operational capability of these groups has been significantly impaired, suggesting that fears of a resurgence are often exaggerated, according to thejakartapost, channelnewsasia, scmp, aljazeera, and reuters.