As investigators dig deeper into the deadly Bondi Beach attack that shook Sydney, new details have emerged about what the alleged gunmen were doing in the Philippines in the weeks before the mass shooting.
According to hotel staff in Davao City, the southern Philippine destination where the suspects spent nearly a month, the father‑and‑son duo kept mostly to themselves, rarely ventured far and even left a tip when they checked out, according to AFP.
On November 1, 2025, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram checked into Room 315 at the GV Hotel in downtown Davao, paying about 930 pesos (roughly $16) per night for the simple room that had two single beds.
Hotel workers, speaking to AFP, said the two men spent most of their time indoors and rarely left their room. “They weren’t approachable like other foreigners,” said night desk manager Angelica Ytang, noting her only interaction was with the younger suspect, Naveed. “Other foreigners usually chat with me, but they didn’t."
Most importantly, staff described a pattern in which the pair stepped out for as little as an hour a day, if at all.
When the men checked out on November 28, Angelica realised they had forgotten their deposit—but the suspects insisted she keep it. “(Naveed) said, ‘That’s yours.’ They were kind. I still can’t believe they were like that,” she told AFP.
Questions about their purpose in the Philippines
Australian authorities are examining whether the suspects’ Philippines trip may have had a link to extremism or militant training. They have noted Davao’s location in Mindanao, a region once associated with Islamist insurgency.
However, Philippine officials have been clear that there’s no evidence the duo received any military or terrorist training during their visit. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said there is “no evidence” that anything of that sort took place and added that the length and nature of their stay made structured training highly unlikely.
Hotel staff said they never saw the two suspects meet with anyone, take a vehicle or leave the city—they simply came and went on foot, usually for short periods each day.
At the time, the GV Hotel did not keep passport copies, a practice not required locally, and its CCTV system runs on a seven‑day loop, meaning footage from November was overwritten by the time authorities arrived, as per ABC News.
Housekeeping found only stray fast‑food packaging in the room—no signs of activity beyond the ordinary.
The newly reported details about the suspects’ Philippines stay deepen the mystery but offer no clear answer about why they were in Davao, beyond the ordinary.
While Australian authorities continue to probe for possible links to extremist networks, Philippine officials maintain that nothing in their behaviour suggested anything more than an extended, low‑profile visit to the city.
