MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dismissed as "misleading" claims branding the Philippines as a hotspot for Islamic State training, Malacañang said Wednesday, following reports that suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting incident had previously traveled to the country. "The President strongly rejects the sweeping statement and the misleading characterization of the Philippines as the ISIS training hotspot," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press conference. Citing a statement from the National Security Council (NSC), Castro said that there was no validated report or confirmation that the individuals involved in the Bondi Beach incident received any form of training in the Philippines. "Philippine authorities in coordination with international partners continue to verify all available information but no evidence has been presented to support claims that the country was used for terrorist training," she said.