There is no evidence that the Philippines is being used for training terrorists, said the spokesperson for President Ferdinand Marcos — Claire Castro, on Wednesday at a press briefing, LETA reports citing AFP.
Castro made this statement the day after information emerged that the gunmen who carried out the massacre in Sydney on Sunday had spent some time in November in the southern Philippines — on an island where Islamist rebels operate.
“[President Marcos] firmly rejects the sweeping statement and misleading characterization of the Philippines as a center for training for the 'Islamic State',” Castro stated.
“No evidence has been presented to support the claim that the country is being used for training terrorists,” she added.
Castro emphasized that there is no confirmation that the individuals involved in the incident at Bondi Beach in Sydney received any training in the Philippines.
On Tuesday, the country's immigration service confirmed that Sajid Akram and his son Navid, who killed 15 people during the Hanukkah celebrations in Sydney, arrived in the Philippines on November 1, heading to the southern province of Davao.
There is indeed an Islamist rebel movement operating on the island of Mindanao, where Davao is located.
Australian authorities are investigating whether the two men met with extremists during their trip.
However, on Wednesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines stated that the activity of armed Muslim groups in Mindanao has largely subsided.
“Since the beginning of 2024, we have not recorded any major terrorist operations or training events for militants,” said Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Francesca Padilla at a morning press briefing.
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