Authorities in the Philippines provided an update on their investigation into the movements of the accused Bondi Beach gunmen during their week-long trip to the country.
The father-son duo – who are now accused of carrying out a deadly attack this week during a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia – reportedly traveled to Davao City earlier for their four-week visit to the Philippines, according to reports. This comes after a recent confirmation by Philippine authorities that the father and son spent almost the entire month of November in the country.
Philippine police and hotel staff said the father and son rarely left their hotel room except for about an hour at a time. according to The Guardian. The outlet added that both police and hotel staff noted that the accused shooters never spoke to other guests or had visitors.
There was speculation that the father and son had traveled to the Philippines to receive training from Islamic groups believed to be active in the country, but authorities have pushed back against this claim.
SURVIVING AUSTRALIA TERROR SUSPECT FACED CHARGES AFTER FATAL ATTACK
Mourners place flowers at a memorial on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on December 15, 2025. (AAP/Bianca De Marchi via Reuters)
On Tuesday, the Philippine Bureau of Investigation said the two accused gunmen traveled to the Philippines on November 1 aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR212 from Sydney to Manila before continuing on to Davao. according to Reuters. The two left the Philippines on November 28, just weeks before they reportedly carried out the Bondi Beach attack.
Davao City is located on the island of Mindanao, which has been under a ‘Level 3: Reconsider Travel’ advisory since May. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Davao City, among a few other locations, an exception to the advisory.
“Terrorist and armed groups in Mindanao have historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom, in addition to bombings and other attacks. These incidents often target foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, as well as civilians, local government entities and security forces,” the State Department advisory reads.
A note is attached to a flower in honor of the shooting victims outside the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Monday, December 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
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In 2017, Islamic State-inspired militants stormed Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur province in the Muslim-majority Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Mindanao. Reuters reported that the siege of Marawi displaced about 350,000 residents and left more than 1,100 dead, most of whom were militants.
The city is currently under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory, with the State Department warning that “citizens are at risk of death or injury due to ongoing clashes between remnants of terrorist groups and Philippine security forces in Marawi.”
Australian broadcaster (ABC) noted that while the influence and strength of Islamic State-affiliated groups have waned in recent years, the Philippine military has rarely had clashes with remnants of the groups.
Family members of a shooting victim from Sunday’s shooting mourn at a floral memorial created after the Bondi Beach shooting on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)
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The attack on Bondi Beach took place on Sunday when gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 and wounding dozens. The older gunman, the father of the younger gunman, died at the scene.
On Wednesday, New South Wales Police announced the 59 charges against the 24-year-old surviving suspected gunman, including ‘committing an act of terrorism’, 15 murders, 40 charges of ‘causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder’, ‘discharging a firearm etc with intent to cause grievous bodily harm’, ‘causing public display of the symbol of a proscribed terrorist organisation’ and ‘planting explosives in/near a building with intent to cause harm’.
NSW Police said the alleged shooter remains in hospital and under police guard.
