PBBM rejects PH label as terror hotspot, orders ATC to stay vigilant

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

President Ferdinand “BongBong” R. Marcos Jr. (Bongbong Marcos/facebook)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) to remain vigilant against possible terror threats, as he rejected foreign media’s “misleading” characterization of the Philippines as an “ISIS training hotspot,” Malacañang said Wednesday.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reminded the foreign media to be “discerning and responsible” in their reporting, particularly in how they depict the Philippines, stressing that branding the country as a terror hub could harm its integrity and image.

“Of course, the President strongly rejects the sweeping statement and the misleading characterization of the Philippines as the ISIS training hotspot,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing, when asked about Malacañang’s position on foreign media reports labeling the Philippines in that way.

“The President orders the Anti-Terrorism Council and member agencies to remain vigilant in preventing any terrorist activity within Philippine territory and to enhance coordination with international partners to safeguard national security continuously,” she said.

Citing the National Security Council’s (NSC) statement, Castro said there are no validated reports showing that suspects in the recent Bondi Beach shooting in Australia allegedly underwent “military-style” training from local terror groups in the Philippines a month before the attack.

Castro said Philippine authorities, in coordination with international partners, continue to verify all available information. Still, no evidence has been presented to support claims that the country was used for terrorist training.

“Since the 2017 Marawi siege, Philippine security forces have significantly degraded ISIS-affiliated groups in the country,” she said.

Castro also noted assessments from the United Nations and the United States, indicating that ISIS-linked groups in the Philippines “now operate in a fragmented and diminished capacity.”

She added that violence in Mindanao is largely driven by historical conflicts and local clan disputes rather than the operational capacity of ISIS-affiliated organizations.

“Recent assessments indicate significant improvements in the domestic security environment that were previously affected by terrorism. These developments reflect the sustained efforts of our security forces and the resilience of our communities in advancing peace, order, and development across the nation,” Castro said.

The recent mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia killed at least 16 people and wounded dozens more during a Hanukkah celebration.

Authorities have described the incident as a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State (ISIS) ideology.

Australian police identified the suspects as a father and son, 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24‑year‑old son Naveed Akram.

The elder Akram was killed by police at the scene, and the younger suspect remains hospitalized under arrest.

According to reports, the pair traveled to the Philippines in November 2025, spending nearly the entire month there before returning to Sydney just weeks before the shooting.