The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has pushed back strongly against attempts to link Mindanao to terrorism following revelations that the two men behind the Bondi Beach mass shooting in Sydney briefly stayed in Davao City last November.
MinDA Chair Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno called the emerging narratives “misleading and unfair,” stressing that Mindanao must not be judged based on the isolated movements of foreign nationals whose motives remain under investigation.
The clarification comes after international media reported that the Bondi Beach attackers — identified as Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed — traveled from Sydney to Manila and onward to Davao City between November 1 and 28, 2025. Some outlets suggested the pair may have sought “military-style training” in the Philippines, though Philippine and Australian authorities have not confirmed such claims.
International Reports: What Actually Happened in Davao
According to Australian media reports, the father-and-son suspects spent nearly the entire month of November inside a small budget hotel room in downtown Davao City, rarely leaving the premises for more than one to two hours a day. Hotel staff told reporters the pair kept to themselves, paid in cash, and showed no signs of suspicious activity.
Other reports noted that Philippine police are still verifying whether the two men remained in Davao the whole time or traveled elsewhere in Mindanao, though no evidence has surfaced linking them to extremist groups or training camps.
Immigration records confirm that Sajid Akram entered the Philippines using an Indian passport, while Naveed traveled on an Australian passport, with both listing Davao as their final destination before returning to Sydney on November 28.
MinDA: “Mere Presence Does Not Equate to Complicity”
Magno emphasized that Mindanao should not be painted with broad strokes based on speculative reporting.
“Mindanao is not a terror hotspot. It is a region moving forward — focused on peace, progress, and inclusive development. There is no evidence that any planning, radicalization, or operational support for the attack took place in Mindanao,” he said.
He noted that millions of tourists, business travelers, and overseas workers pass through Mindanao every year for legitimate reasons, and that the region has undergone dramatic improvements in stability and security over the past decade.
MinDA warned that sensational labels could undermine these gains by discouraging investment and tourism while unfairly stigmatizing communities that have long rejected extremism.
National Security Officials: No Evidence of Training in the Philippines
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año echoed MinDA’s position, stating that Philippine authorities are coordinating with Australian counterparts to determine the purpose of the Akrams’ visit.
Año stressed that there is no intelligence indicating the suspects received military or terrorist training while in the country, adding that their 27‑day stay — mostly spent inside a hotel room — would not have allowed for any structured training activity.
“A visit alone does not substantiate claims of terrorist training,” Año said.
A Call for Responsible Reporting
Magno urged media organizations to exercise accuracy and restraint, especially when reporting on matters that affect regional peace and economic confidence.
He reiterated that Mindanao’s progress is the result of decades of peacebuilding, counterterrorism cooperation, and community-driven security efforts — gains that should not be jeopardized by unfounded narratives.
