Alleged old videos of Israeli tourists clashing with locals in Siargao have gained renewed attention amid discussions about their behavior in the tourist destination.
A publication on Thursday, April 9 reported that a now-deleted post from a “Siargao Facebook group” has been circulating, which contained accounts in which Israeli tourists allegedly insulted and harmed Filipinos.
A Reddit post claimed that the incident allegedly occurred on April 29, 2025, as shared in the “Siargao Business Classified 2.0” group by a user named “Alex,” described as a “long-time resident.”
The Facebook post was uploaded by PULSO WORLD, where the poster claimed that an Israeli tourist appeared interested in talking to them.
The Filipinos initiated a conversation, “being friendly,” and the tourist later described Israel, where he was from, as “the most powerful country in the world.”
The Filipinos disagreed and the tourist allegedly said, “Yes, that is why we kill all of Palestine.”
The tourist later reportedly went to a hotel, returned with companions, and called the Filipinos’ attention, saying, “Hey, you guys like to f*** ladyboys?”
The poster said it “triggered” them, particularly as they are trans women.
“We approached them, but it turned violent real quick. They started throwing stones at us!! This hit one local girl in the ear. Our guy friends were really provoked by this attack, so a loud discussion happened. This went out for a few minutes until the roving patrol saw us,” the poster said.
Videos of the incident were recently posted by the publication.
“For many residents, this wasn’t just an isolated incident, but a sign of growing friction tied to the island’s rapid tourism boom. As Siargao evolves, the question remains: Can the island stay a safe space for its community while opening its doors to the world?” it said.
On Sunday, April 5, an online user on X (formerly Twitter) also raised concerns about Israelis building “local communities” in the Philippines.
The Israelis have already built their local communities on PHILIPPINE SOIL! pic.twitter.com/Cm9YOcw2OI
— pill (@iicepilled) April 5, 2026
In response to the social media posts, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday, April 7 said that foreign nationals in Siargao who violate immigration laws will face sanctions.
It added that the bureau has been monitoring the movements of foreign nationals following reports of alleged misconduct involving Israeli nationals in Siargao.
“If found to have violated immigration laws, violators may face deportation and blacklisting,” BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval told Philstar.com.
Last year, the Department of Tourism said it had relayed residents’ concerns about the behavior of Israeli tourists to the Embassy of Israel in Manila.
“We did echo the concerns that have been aired by certain sectors in Siargao and emphasized the necessity of ensuring that there is always respect for our local customs, traditions and culture,” then-Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said.
“The ambassador received these sentiments well and assured me that their embassy also continues to monitor and liaise with their nationals that are now based in Siargao,” she added.
RELATED: DOT addresses concerns over growing presence of Israelis in Siargao
Frasco emphasized that for the DOT, “tourism is about bridging cultures and fostering understanding among a variety of peoples who don’t have the same background, don’t come from the same countries, but are united in the aspiration to be human and to enjoy each other’s company.”
“So we’re hopeful that tourism in Siargao will continue to thrive and that peace will reign among the locals as well as the tourists there because Siargao continues to be a very exciting and preferred destination for the country,” she said.
Siargao is a popular tourist destination renowned for its white-sand beaches ideal for surfing, kayaking, cliff jumping, paddleboarding, cave swimming, island hopping and other pursuits.
It was named the Best Island in Asia by Condé Nast Traveler in 2019.
— with reports from Philstar.com/Ian Laqui and Interaksyon/Rosette Adel
