MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines said there was “no evidence of terrorist training, recruitment, or large-scale attacks” by domestic local terrorist groups (LTGs) since 2016 following confirmed reports that the father and son suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting stayed in the Philippines before the attack. The statement comes after an Australian news outlet reported that Sajid (50) and Naveed Akram (24) allegedly went to the Philippines to receive “military-style training” from Nov. 1 to 28, 2025 before they killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Reports by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said that Naveed had longstanding links to Australia’s pro–Islamic State (IS) network, including connections to controversial jihadist preacher Wisam Haddad and convicted IS youth recruiter Youssef Uweinat. Through a lawyer, Haddad has “vehemently denied” any involvement in or knowledge of the Bondi Beach shootings. Australian investigators are examining possible international jihadist links after confirming that the Akrams travelled to Manila in early November. A senior counterterrorism official, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed the pair later went to the southern Philippines for militant training AFP spokesman, Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, said in a press briefing that intelligence assessments did not support the claims, stressing that local terrorist groups in the Philippines have significantly weakened over the past decade. The AFP said the neutralization, arrest or surrender of senior figures of LTGs have mainly contributed to their decline, leaving the remaining forces with the inability to plan, direct and sustain operations. Padilla said the government also has strong counter terrorism efforts and community involvement programs that continuously encouraged peaceful surrender and reintegration of former rebels into the society, making LTGs lose their foothold in villages that have helped their cause.