No evidence of terror training by Bondi suspects in PH – Año

Father and son only 'jogged, slept, bonded' in Davao hotel

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG

National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año on Friday, Dec. 20, rejected claims that the Philippines is a terrorist hotspot as he bared that the father-and-son suspects in the recent mass shooting at the Bondi Beach in Syndey, Australia, spent their entire stay at a hotel in Davao City simply "jogging, sleeping, and bonding" with no indication that they underwent any form of terror training.

Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, arrived in the country on Nov. 1 and allegedly stayed at the GV Hotel, a one-star accommodation along Pichon Street in Poblacion District, until their departure on Nov. 28.

Two weeks later, they opened fire at attendees of the Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, killing at least 15 people. Sajid was killed by responding Australian police while Naveed was critically injured. Forty people were also hurt in the attack.

"All the 28 days that they stayed in Davao, every night they slept in the same hotel so there is no way they can or they underwent any training in Maguindanao or in Lanao or wherever. Nobody came to the hotel to visit them," Año said.

Authorities, he added, have already established the pair's daily routine.