DAVAO CITY – Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Secretary Leo Magno has debunked sweeping claims labeling Mindanao anew as terrorism hotspot amid reports that the father-and-son duo behind the Bondi Beach shooting rampage in Sydney, Australia briefly stayed here last November.

Magno emphasized that the emerging narratives are “misleading and unfair.”

He added that the region must not be judged based on the isolated movements of foreign nationals whose motives remain under investigation.

Magno issued the statement after foreign news outlets reported that Bondi Beach shooters Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed, traveled from Sydney to Manila and onward to Davao City between Nov. 1 and 28, 2025.

Several news outlets claimed that the duo may have sought “military-style training” in the Philippines, a claim that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed on Tuesday that the father-and-son duo were in the Philippines.

Manila Bulletin verified on Thursday, Dec. 18, that the Akrams indeed stayed in a budget hotel in the downtown area from Nov. 1 to 28.

According to the hotel staff, the Akrams would only go out and return to the hotel for at least an hour. They rarely interact with the hotel staff.

“Mindanao is not a terror hotspot. It is a region moving forward — focused on peace, progress, and inclusive development. There is no evidence that any planning, radicalization, or operational support for the attack took place in Mindanao,” he said.

Magno added that millions of tourists, business travelers, and overseas workers pass through Mindanao every year for legitimate reasons.

“Mindanao today is far more stable, secure, and peaceful than it was decades ago. Hard-won gains from sustained peace processes, counter-terrorism cooperation, and community-based security efforts have significantly improved the region’s safety and investment climate.”

He urged news outlets to be fair and responsible in reporting saying that sensational labels could undermine the peace gains in Mindanao.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has also debunked reports linking the Akrams to any terrorism related activity.

Año claimed that is no intelligence report indicating the suspects received military or terrorist training while in the country, adding that their 27‑day stay — mostly spent inside a hotel room — would not have allowed for any structured training activity.

“A visit alone does not substantiate claims of terrorist training,” he said in a statement.

Año, who was the AFP chief of staff at the height of Marawi seige, said that media reports describing Mindanao as a hotspot for violent extremism or Islamic State ideology are outdated and misleading.

“Since the 2017 Marawi Siege, Philippine security forces have significantly degraded ISIS-affiliated groups in the country. The remnants of these groups have been fragmented, deprived of leadership, and operationally degraded.”