Marcos on ISIS training hotspot claim: We reject this 'misleading' claim

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday dismissed reports that the Philippines was an ISIS training hotspot, saying that the claim was misleading and unacceptable.

Marcos made the remark during the 90th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

''We also reject in the strongest terms the recent misleading claims that portray our country as a training hotspot for terrorism,'' Marcos said.

''For years, we have acted decisively to dismantle terrorist networks, to secure communities, and to sustain our hard-earned peace. To dismiss these gains with unfounded speculation is not acceptable,'' he added.

To recall, some media outlets characterized the Philippines as an “ISIS training hotspot'' after it was found out that suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting incident had previously traveled to the country.

Marcos underscored that the government remains vigilant, noting that ''we will not let deceptive narratives distract us nor weaken our resolve.''

Earlier, Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram — suspects in the Australia shooting incident — arrived in the Philippines from Sydney on November 1.

Sandoval said Sajid Akram is an Indian national and an Australian resident, while Naveed Akram is an Australian national. During their visit to the Philippines, both reportedly listed Davao as their final destination.

The two left the Philippines on November 28, travelling from Davao to Manila before flying back to Sydney.

On December 14, the two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people.

The death toll later rose to 16 after one of the gunmen was killed. — BAP, GMA Integrated News