HONORARY Consul of Finland and European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Chairman Antonio Peralta has firmly rejected attempts to associate Mindanao with terrorism, following foreign reports that tried to link the region to the perpetrators of the recent Bondi Beach mass shooting in Australia.
Call to End Outdated "Insurgency" Label
Speaking at a Business Insights media forum held at NCCC Mall Ma-a on January 9, 2026, Peralta stressed that Mindanao should no longer be labeled with terms like "insurgency." He urged the public and international community to view the tragic event in Australia as an isolated incident that does not reflect the current realities in the southern Philippines.
"I would like to look at what happened in Australia as an isolated incident in that country. But again, the messaging must be consistent that Mindanao is totally insurgency-free," Peralta stated. He emphasized that the area is generally peaceful, and this stability, combined with good governance, is attracting more investors to consider Mindanao as a prime business destination.
Diplomatic Push to Correct Misinformation
The call for accurate messaging comes after some international reports labeled Mindanao a "terror hotspot." These reports were based on claims that the Bondi Beach attackers—father and son Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24—had allegedly traveled to the Philippines for "military-style training" in Mindanao before the attack.
Peralta argued that such claims unfairly single out Mindanao and undermine decades of progress in peace-building, security reforms, and governance. He noted that misinformation continues to skew perceptions, even among Filipinos in Metro Manila and Cebu who may still associate the region with past instability.
To combat this, European foreign chambers and the diplomatic community are strengthening coordination with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). MinDA's quarterly peace and order reports are now distributed to embassies in Manila to provide fact-based assessments. Furthermore, 14 European consulates have begun regular meetings on Mindanao developments, with plans to establish a quarterly forum to harmonize messaging among government, business, and diplomatic entities.
Police Verification of Alleged Links
Meanwhile, authorities are actively investigating the alleged Mindanao connection. Police Regional Office–Davao Region (PRO-Davao) spokesperson Police Major Catherine Dela Rey confirmed that coordination is underway with Cotabato province authorities after mobile phone signals linked to the suspects were detected there.
Dela Rey clarified that investigators are still verifying if the signal detection indicates the suspects' physical presence or is a technological anomaly. She also denied reports that the suspects purchased a firearm in Davao City, stating that closed-circuit television footage only shows them visiting a gun shop without a confirmed transaction. Claims of the suspects traveling to Panabo City have not been validated due to a lack of evidence.
Protecting Mindanao's Hard-Earned Reputation
Both security officials and business leaders have called for responsible reporting to prevent premature conclusions from damaging Mindanao's reputation. Peralta warned that inaccurate portrayals harm tourism, investment, and the confidence of local communities who have worked tirelessly for peace.
He pointed to declining conflict incidents, improved governance, and rising investor interest as the true indicators of Mindanao's transformation. Peralta expressed strong confidence in the region's future, anticipating that more foreign consulates will open offices there within the next two years, alongside an increase in trade missions.
As investigations into the suspects' movements continue, the unified message from Mindanao's advocates is clear: the region must be judged on its present reality—a peaceful, stable, and economically vibrant part of the Philippines moving confidently forward.
