While the timing of the Australian attackers’ trip to the Philippines warrants scrutiny, the Islamic State’s presence in the country is much diminished today.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been scrambling to quell public outrage over the massive corruption blamed for substandard, defective or nonexistent flood control projects.

Australian officials say the Bondi Beach gunmen carried bombs, ISIS flags and had recently traveled to the Philippines, confirming the massacre was ISIS-inspired.

The southern Philippines once drew small numbers of foreign militants aligned with al-Qaida or the Islamic State group to train in a secessionist conflict involving minority Muslims in the largely Catholic nation.

According to the Philippine National Police, 119 rallies were organized by the Catholic Church, civil society movements, and others,

Manila's coast guard said nearly two dozen Filipino fishing boats near Sabina Shoal were targeted with water cannon and blocking manoeuvres.

Vietnam lost to the Philippines on penalties in the SEA Games women’s football final, a game that they scored a valid goal but was disallowed.