Sajid Akram and his son Naveed only left their room for an hour or so each day and largely kept to themselves, a night desk manager told AFP.

Alleged Bondi shooters, Sajid and Naveed Akram, secluded themselves in a Philippines hotel during their visit, raising suspicions.

A spokesperson said President Ferdinand Marcos "strongly rejects" the "misleading characterisation of the Philippines as the ISIS training hotspot".