Jonathan Frederic De Santos

People wait for buses inside a terminal in Davao City on May 6, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176629252025620220506-davao-duterte-legacy-gc-10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="People wait for buses inside a terminal in Davao City on May 6, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">People wait for buses inside a terminal in Davao City on May 6, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>DAVAO CITY — Tagging Mindanao as a terrorism hotspot is inaccurate and unfair, the Mindanao Development Authority said as it rejected the label that was revived over speculation that the gunmen in a mass shooting in Bondi in Australia this month may have trained in the Philippines.</p><p>Authorities have confirmed that Sajid and Naveed Akram visited the Philippines in November but said they seemed to have stayed in their Davao City hotel room and that there are no indications that they received any &quot;terrorist&quot; training while here.</p><p>“Mindanao is not a terror hotspot. It is a region moving forward—focused on peace, progress, and inclusive development,” MinDA Chair Leo Tereso Magno said in a statement.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/12/20/davao-city-residents-decry-militant-hotbed-label-after-bondi-attacker-link-2029">Davao City residents decry &#x27;militant hotbed&#x27; label after Bondi attacker link<br/></a></div><p>He said the island should not be judged by the actions or movements of individuals and stressed that there is no evidence of any planning, radicalization, or operational support for terrorist attacks in the region.</p><p>He added millions of tourists, business travelers, overseas workers, and foreign nationals pass through Mindanao each year for legitimate purposes.</p><p>He also cited improvements in the region’s security situation, pointing to gains from peace processes, counterterrorism cooperation, and community-based security efforts.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DAVAO REGIONAL POLICE TRACING AKRAMS&#x27; MOVEMENTS, CONTACTS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Police Regional Office 11 in the Davao Region meanwhile said it is conducting backtracking and intelligence operations to establish the Akrams&#x27; movements, activities, and local connections.</p><p>Police BGen. Leon Victor Rosete, acting regional director, said operations &quot;to establish their movements during their stay in Davao City and to determine any activities they may have undertaken&quot; were launched as soon as it was confirmed that the Akrams had been to the region.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/20/bondi-shooter-visited-gun-shop-during-philippines-stay-police-1448">Bondi shooter visited gun shop during Philippines stay — police<br/></a></div><p>Police have been reviewing security camera footage, hotel records, travel data, and other available information.</p><p>“Part of our efforts is to identify persons they had contact with and assess any possible links or support networks,” Rosete also said.</p><p>The investigation is being carried out in close coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other intelligence and law enforcement agencies.</p>

<p>Tagging Mindanao as a terrorism hotspot is inaccurate and unfair, the Mindanao Development Authority said as it rejected the label that was revived over speculation that the gunmen in a mass shooting in Bondi in Australia this month may have trained in the Philippines.</p>

Tagging Mindanao as a terrorism hotspot is inaccurate and unfair, the Mindanao Development Authority said as it rejected the label that was revived over speculation that the gunmen in a mass shooting in Bondi in Australia this month may have trained in the Philippines.

‘A region moving forward’: MinDA rejects 'terror hotspot' tag over Bondi shooters’ visit

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‘A region moving forward’: MinDA rejects 'terror hotspot' tag over Bondi shooters’ visit

Eric Bernal

Published Dec 21, 2025 12:55 PM PHT

Read More:

Mindanao Development Authority

Police Regional Office 11

Davao City

Davao Region

Bondi Beach

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