PNP probing PH visit of Bondi Beach shooters

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered an investigation into the recent visit to the Philippines of the two suspects linked to the Bondi Beach mass shooting in Sydney, Australia.

“This matter is being investigated as we seek to determine the reason behind their visit to the Philippines. Inaalam natin kung saang mga lugar sila nagpunta, sino ang kanilang mga nakausap, at saan sila namalagi habang nandito sa bansa,” PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.

(This matter is being investigated as we seek to determine the reason behind their visit to the Philippines. We are looking into the places they visited; the persons they interacted with; and where did they stay here in the country.)

Nartatez said police are now working to establish the possible reason for their travel.

The PNP is also looking into the places that Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24 visited in the country, the individuals they interacted with, and their accommodations during their stay to establish possible motive.

This is to “eventually take the appropriate actions against all those responsible behind the gun attack in Australia,” Nartatez said.

He added that the PNP is closely coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as part of a whole-of-government approach to information-sharing and threat assessment.

The PNP is also talking with its foreign counterparts to validate intelligence and ensure that no security gaps are left unaddressed.

On December 14, gunmen opened fire at a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people. The death toll climbed to 16 after one of the gunmen was killed.

On Tuesday, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that the two suspects in the mass shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach visited the Philippines last month.

They arrived on November 1 and both reported Davao as their final destination. They left on November 28 on a connecting flight from Davao to Manila, with Sydney as their final destination.

Police authorities abroad are reportedly investigating why the pair traveled to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said the suspects’ visit is not considered as a serious security concern in the Philippines.

On Wednesday, the Palace said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected the “misleading” tag that the Philippines is a “training hotspot” for the Islamic State following the suspects’ visit to the country. — JMA, GMA Integrated News