MANILA, Philippines– President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday in Manila rejected as misleading the claims that the Philippines serves as a training hotspot for Islamic State (ISIS) members, after reports linked suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting incident to previous travel to the country, according to Malacañang.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, speaking at a press conference, said Marcos strongly rejected what he described as a sweeping statement and a misleading characterization of the Philippines as an ISIS training hotspot.
Castro cited a statement from the National Security Council (NSC) that said Philippine security agencies have not received any validated report or confirmation that the individuals involved in the Bondi Beach incident obtained any form of terrorist training while in the Philippines.
She said investigators have not presented evidence to support claims that any group used Philippine territory as a site for ISIS training in connection with the Bondi Beach incident.