The Philippines and Australia have reaffirmed their long-standing counter-terrorism partnership following updated findings by Australian authorities indicating there is no evidence that suspects in the deadly December attack at Bondi Beach received terrorist or military training in the Philippines.
In a statement issued on January 6, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomed remarks made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett during a December 30 press conference in Canberra, which highlighted close Philippine-Australian cooperation in the investigation.
Prime Minister Albanese publicly thanked Philippine authorities for their assistance, noting the role of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in facilitating information sharing.
“I also want to take the opportunity to thank… President Marcos, my friend, the President of the Philippines as well. Through him, the agencies in the Philippines have done everything they can to provide information in a timely way, and that’s a good thing,” Albanese said.
The DFA underscored that the Australian Federal Police’s assessment aligns with earlier findings of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which found no indication that the suspects received training or logistical preparation during their stay in the Philippines from November 1 to 29, 2025.
Commissioner Barrett said “there is no evidence to suggest they received training or underwent logistical preparation for their alleged attack” while in the country, adding that “there is no evidence to suggest these alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell or were directed by others to carry out an attack,” while stressing that the investigation remains ongoing.
She also credited Philippine authorities for their swift cooperation, saying that “without their swift response, much of the CCTV footage that is now under review by our investigators would not have been available.” Barrett emphasized that the Australian Federal Police and the Philippine National Police have worked together for decades on counter-terrorism cooperation.
The December 14 attack at Bondi Beach, which occurred during a Hanukkah celebration, left at least 15 people dead and injured dozens more. Australian authorities have described the shooting as an antisemitic attack inspired by Islamic State ideology. The case drew attention in the Philippines after reports emerged that the suspects, a father-and-son pair, had spent several weeks in Davao City shortly before the incident.
Philippine officials, including National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, have repeatedly said there is no evidence the suspects engaged in militant activity while in the country, rejecting claims that the Philippines served as a terrorist training base.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro reiterated Manila’s firm commitment to counter-terrorism, saying the Philippines will continue to work closely with Australia and other partners to prevent violent extremism.
As the investigation continues, both governments signaled that cooperation will remain focused on intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and capacity-building to address transnational security threats, including terrorism.