Inside the $18 a night Philippines hotel where accused terrorists stayed for a month

Staff at a southern Philippines hotel where the alleged Bondi beach gunmen Sajid and Naveed Akram stayed last month say the men barely left their room during a four-week visit.

Authorities in Manila are also rejecting reports the pair received any form of military training while visiting the Philippines, just days before they allegedly carried out Sunday’s mass shooting.

On Wednesday police on the island of Mindanao could be seen guarding the GV Hotel in Davao City, as investigators searched the room booked by the Sydney men between November 1 and 28.

Local news outlet MindaNews reported that officers had questioned hotel staff about the two Australian guests and requested any CCTV footage from last month, which was no longer available.

“They each had a big luggage and a backpack. The longest that they would be outside would be around an hour, and they would be just back here in the hotel,” hotel worker Jenelyn Sayson told the website.

Hotel staff say they never saw the 50-year-old father and 24-year-old son speak with other guests or have any visitors come to their room and would only briefly leave the building by foot.

“We thought they probably had a business here in the city since they would go out and just come back again,” Sayson said, noting Naveed once asked staff where they could purchase durian.

Sayson said the two men originally checked into the hotel with a confirmed online booking for seven days, but then on November 8 they told staff that they would extend for another seven days and paid in cash.

They then extend a week’s stay at a time until they finally checked out on November 28 to return to Australia.

“Naveed appeared to have had a recent haircut when I saw them on the news; he had longer hair when he was here,” she added.

Accommodation at the budget hotel is advertised online for as little as $18 a night, with staff confirming the Sydney men stayed together in room 315, which consists of two single beds, a TV and a basic bathroom.

Online reviews from other recent international guests at the GV Hotel, located in downtown Davao City, describe the facilities as “basic” and “dated” but with “friendly staff”.

Meanwhile official statements from Philippines authorities have backed accounts from GV Hotel staff that the accused Australian terrorists do not appear to have undertaken any military training while staying in Mindanao.

“The Philippine government is currently investigating the travel to the country of two (2) individuals involved in the Bondi shooting incident in Sydney, Australia,” National Security Advisor, Secretary Eduardo M Ano said in a statement on Wednesday evening.

“There is no valid report or confirmation that the two received any form of military training while in the country and no evidence supports such a claim at present. A mere visit does not support allegations of terrorist training and the duration of their stay would not have allowed for any meaningful or structured training.”

“Media reports describing Mindanao as a hot spot for violent extremism or Islamic State ideology are outdated and misleading,” Secretary Ano added.

“Since the 2017 Marawi Siege, Philippine security forces have significantly degraded ISIS-affiliated groups in the country. The remnants of these groups have been fragmented, deprived of leadership, and operationally degraded.”

The Secretary said authorities in the Philippines were also coordinating with counterparts in the Australian government “for information and intelligence sharing in order to determine the purpose of their visit”.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro, also declared “there is no validated report or confirmation that individuals involved in the Bondi Beach incident received any form of training in the Philippines.”

Philippines Authorities released images of the pair’s passport, Sajid Akram holds an Indian passport, and while Naveed Akram holds on Australian one.