A 65-year-old Jordanian national linked to the suspects in the deadly December 14, 2025 mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia was arrested in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur for allegedly violating Philippine immigration laws.
Personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), police officers, and troops from the 102nd Infantry Brigade arrested the suspect for allegedly overstaying and engaging in business in the Philippines without the proper visa or permit.
According to the 1st Infantry Division (1ID), the suspect was arrested at his business establishment in Pagadian City.
The military said the operation was launched after authorities received information that a business establishment in the Philippines associated with the suspect appeared in records connected to the suspects in the Bondi Beach attack that killed 16 people, including one of the gunmen.
Because of this, security forces in the Philippines tagged the suspect as a person of interest for further investigation.
Concerned government agencies then coordinated on the legal action related to the suspect’s immigration status.
Authorities said the suspect traveled frequently between Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Indonesia, the United Aran Emirates, Qatar, and Malaysia from 2014 to 2025, based on his travel and immigration records.
1ID said records also showed that the suspect obtained a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) in 2023, which was valid until March 2025.
However, he reportedly remained in the Philippines for about 10 months beyond the expiration of his visa, which constitutes a violation of immigration laws.
Authorities clarified that direct involvement of Odeh in terrorist activity has not been established, based on initial investigation.
However, authorities are coordinating with relevant national and international partners to assess fully any potential security concerns related to the case.
“The successful conduct of the operation highlights the strong inter-agency coordination between the Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines through Joint Task Force ZAMPELAN / 1st Infantry Division in addressing potential transnational security concerns,” 1ID said.
