(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday dismissed as “misleading” claims branding the Philippines as a hot spot for Islamic State (IS) training, following reports that the shooters in the Bondi Beach massacre that killed 16 people had stayed in the Philippines for a month before the shooting. “The president strongly rejects the sweeping statement and the misleading characterization of the Philippines as the ISIS training hot spot,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing. Citing a statement from the National Security Council, Castro said there was no validated report or confirmation that the father and son involved in the Bondi Beach mass shooting 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. Castro said that since the Marawi siege in 2017, Philippine law enforcement agencies have been able to significantly degrade ISIS-affiliated groups in the country. She said assessments by the United Nations and the United States government indicated that these groups now operated in a fragmented and diminished capacity. The Palace official also noted that historical clan conflicts largely drive violence in Mindanao and that improvements have already been made through sustained government efforts. “Recent assessments indicate significant improvements in the domestic security environment that were previously affected by terrorism. These developments reflect the sustained efforts of our security forces and the resilience of our communities in advancing peace, order and development across the nation,” Castro said. “The president orders the Anti-Terrorism Council and member-agencies to remain vigilant in preventing any terrorist activity within Philippine territory and to continuously enhance coordination with international partners to safeguard national security,” she added. Meanwhile, Castro urged foreign media making such descriptions to be discerning and responsible in their reporting, noting that such statements could damage the image and integrity of the Philippines. Earlier, Bureau of Immigration spokesman Dana Sandoval said 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram — who carried out the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia — arrived in the Philippines from Sydney on Nov. 1. Sandoval said Sajid Akram is an Indian and an Australian resident, while Naveed Akram is an Australian citizen. During their visit to the Philippines, both reportedly listed Davao as their final destination. The two left the Philippines on Nov. 28, traveling from Davao to Manila before flying back to Sydney. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday that the two men had likely been radicalized by “Islamic State ideology.” The police reportedly found IS flags in their vehicle, raising suspicion of their links to the international terrorist group. Australian authorities said they are investigating whether the two men met with extremists during the trip. The Philippine military, however, said Wednesday that armed Muslim groups still operating on Mindanao had been largely degraded in the years since the siege of Marawi, a five-month battle for the city that pitted government forces against pro-Islamic State Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants that claimed more than 1,000 lives. “We have not recorded any major terrorist operations or training activities... since the beginning of 2024,” Philippine military spokeswoman Col. Francel Padilla said at a morning press briefing. “They are fragmented, and they have no leadership,” she added of the insurgent groups. Col. Xerxes Trinidad told reporters the father-and-son duo’s November trip to the Philippines would not have provided adequate time for significant training. “Training cannot be acquired in just 30 days... especially if you are to undergo marksmanship,” he said. But Rommel Banlaoi, a based security analyst, said that while many insurgent groups were on the run, they were far from eradicated. “There are still many active training camps in [central] Mindanao. Those did not disappear,” he said, adding that even weakened insurgent movements maintained connections locally and globally online. WITH AFP