The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday advised the public to “exercise care against misleading characterizations” of the security situation in the Philippines as authorities continue to verify facts surrounding the recent visit of the Bondi Beach shooters.
In a formal statement, the DFA confirmed that the Philippines and Australia are in close coordination to establish a clear picture of the matter. The department urged media organizations to prioritize accuracy, balance, and context in their reporting while avoiding “sweeping generalizations” and speculation that could spread misinformation or inflame prejudice regarding the country’s connection to the incident.
The Philippine government highlighted that it has made significant strides in improving domestic security to sustain peace and socio-economic development. It reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to international efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism through sustained information sharing, law enforcement collaboration, and border security cooperation with Australia and other partner nations.
The clarification follows confirmation that gunmen Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram traveled to Davao City in November, roughly two weeks before the December 14 attack in Sydney. Despite the visit, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stated there is no indication that the pair underwent any training or that foreign terrorist activities occurred in the area during their stay.
Security officials noted that the suspects’ month-long trip was largely spent within their hotel, with hotel staff reporting that the two men typically left their room for only an hour or so each day and mostly kept to themselves.
The AFP further pointed out that military-style training cannot be acquired in such a brief window, particularly as the elder suspect was already a licensed firearm owner in Australia.
