Top News

Silent Weeks in Davao: For nearly a month before the Bondi attack, alleged suspects Naveed Akram and his father Sajid Akram lived an unremarkable and almost invisible life inside a modest hotel room in the southern Philippines. Their stay in Davao City, a busy urban hub on the island of Mindanao, drew little attention at the time. Only after the attack did their quiet routine become a critical focus for investigators attempting to understand the timeline and circumstances that preceded the incident.

A Low-Profile Stay in a Busy City

Davao City is known as Mindanao’s largest metropolitan area, a place where commerce, tourism, and everyday life continue amid a complex security history. Within this environment, the two men checked into the GV Hotel, a budget accommodation located in the city’s downtown district. According to hotel employees, they arrived without fanfare and blended easily into the daily flow of guests.

The father and son stayed in Room 315 for a total of 27 days. The room itself was simple, containing two single beds, a television, and a basic bathroom. Staff members later recalled that nothing about the room or the guests stood out during their stay, which contributed to the absence of suspicion at the time.

Daily Routine and Limited Movement

Hotel workers observed that Naveed and Sajid Akram rarely deviated from a predictable routine. They were seen leaving and returning to the hotel daily, usually for short periods. According to staff accounts, the longest time they were away from the property at any one stretch was between one and two hours.

An employee named Jenelyn Sayson stated that from the moment they arrived until they checked out, the pair never appeared to leave Davao City. Their movements suggested a contained lifestyle, with no signs of tourism or extended travel beyond the immediate area.

Quiet Behavior and Minimal Interaction

Employees consistently described the two men as reserved and withdrawn. They avoided unnecessary conversations with hotel staff and did not socialize with other guests. When they did step outside, Sajid Akram was often seen wearing sunglasses, a detail that seemed unusual only in hindsight.

Despite these observations, there was nothing in their conduct that appeared alarming. They followed hotel rules, caused no disturbances, and did not attract complaints, allowing them to remain largely unnoticed during their extended stay.

Booking Extensions and Missing Records

Initially, the room was booked for one week. However, the stay was extended three separate times, eventually reaching nearly a full month. Hotel staff explained that retaining passport copies was not mandatory at the property, and as a result, no identification records were kept on file.

Payment receipts from the stay are also no longer available. Additionally, CCTV footage from the relevant period could not be recovered, as the hotel’s surveillance system automatically overwrites recordings after seven days. Investigators later collected the hotel’s computer hard drive as part of their inquiry, further highlighting the challenges in reconstructing events.

Immigration Details and Communication Records

Philippine immigration authorities confirmed that both men entered the country on November 1 and departed on November 28, listing Davao as their destination. When booking the hotel room, Naveed Akram reportedly provided a locally registered Philippine phone number.

Background details revealed that Sajid Akram, originally from Hyderabad, traveled using an Indian passport and had migrated in 1998. Naveed Akram, born in Australia, used Australian travel documents, adding an international dimension to the investigation.

Signs of Everyday Living Inside Room 315

Housekeeping staff found little inside the room that suggested unusual activity. Most of the waste consisted of food packaging from fast food restaurants. Among the items discovered were wrappers from Jollibee, a well-known Philippine fast food chain that offers halal-certified meals in Davao City.

At one point during their stay, Naveed Akram reportedly asked hotel staff where he could purchase a durian, a popular local fruit. This small, ordinary interaction stood in stark contrast to the gravity of events that would later unfold.

Growing Significance After the Attack

What once seemed like an uneventful hotel stay has since taken on deeper meaning. Investigators are now carefully examining those quiet weeks in Davao as they attempt to piece together the broader narrative leading up to the Bondi attack. The lack of digital records, minimal interaction, and ordinary daily habits have made the investigation more complex, emphasizing how easily routine behavior can mask significant developments.