General Luna LGU condemns café assault allegedly linked to Israeli nationals in Siargao

The local government of General Luna in Siargao, Surigao del Norte, has issued an official statement condemning a violent assault on the owners of a local business, allegedly carried out by two unidentified individuals.

The attack, according to social media accounts circulating on 11 May 2026, targeted a café that displayed a pro-Palestinian flag. The alleged assailants reportedly destroyed closed-circuit television cameras, threw rocks, and physically assaulted the café owners, including striking them with a stick.

The owners were reportedly badly beaten. A young child belonging to the family was said to be present during the attack. Social media posts alleged that the response from police and ambulance services took approximately two to three hours, though it remained unclear whether the incident may have been reported to authorities with some delay.

In its statement on 12 May, the LGU declared: "This incident is not just an attack on an individual or a business; it is an affront to the safety and security of every Lunanian and visitor."

The General Luna Municipal Police Station confirmed that an investigation is ongoing. The LGU called on the public to come forward with information, submit photographs or video footage, and remain vigilant against suspicious activity.

Ambassador absent from community meeting

Two days after the café attack, business owners, local officials, and other stakeholders convened a meeting on 13 May 2026 to discuss the incident and growing concerns over the reported conduct of some foreign tourists on the island. Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh and senior embassy representatives did not attend.

Among those present were the victims of the café assault. Photographs circulating online showed one of the owners bearing visible bruising. The ambassador's absence drew significant criticism from the public and local community.

The development came just two days after Kursh and Consul Moti Cohen had visited Siargao on 11 May 2026 and met with General Luna Mayor Johnson Y. Sajulga and Vice Mayor Romina Rusillon-Sajulga. That meeting had been convened to address earlier complaints of bullying and disruptive behaviour attributed to some Israeli nationals on the island.

Earlier, on 4 May 2026, Kursh had publicly called for Philippine law enforcement to act against misbehaving tourists at Israel's 78th Independence Day celebrations. "We want to say this loud and clear: If there is an Israeli tourist who is misbehaving, the relevant Filipino authorities should enforce the law — because they need to enforce the law," she was quoted as saying.

A pattern of reported incidents

The café attack is the latest in a series of reported incidents in Siargao involving alleged misconduct by Israeli tourists. On 29 April 2025, a confrontation in General Luna was captured on video and spread widely online.

The footage showed a foreign man arguing aggressively with a group of Filipinos that included trans women. One of those involved, Alexis Gumera, said the group had been subjected to catcalling earlier that evening before the situation escalated.

According to Gumera, the man identified himself as Israeli and made remarks referencing the war in Gaza, including statements about killing Palestinians. He later returned and allegedly threw stones at her group, injuring one Filipino. A police blotter was filed the following day, but those involved had already left the area.

In a separate incident in April 2026, a group of Filipinos in Santa Fe, Siargao, reported being harassed by foreign nationals on motorcycles with no visible licence plates. According to their statement, the riders repeatedly obstructed their vehicle, swerved in front of them, and forced them to stop. The complainants noted that a child was in the vehicle at the time.

Public figures call for accountability

Filipino actress Andi Eigenmann, who is based in Siargao with her partner Philmar Alipayo and their children, publicly addressed the situation on 13 May 2026 via her Instagram page.

She called on the government to address what she described as "disrespect and environmental abuse" by some tourists on the island.

Eigenmann said the café attack and broader pattern of conduct had been deeply distressing to those who had built their lives on the island. "This is why it breaks my heart seeing locals get pushed aside in their own home, by people who arrive here for their own pleasure, thinking paradise means freedom from accountability," she wrote.

She appealed directly to officials in positions of authority. "Respectfully, I am hoping that those in positions of power, please, listen to the people. Please actually protect the communities. Please actually enforce the rules," she stated.

Eigenmann also noted that while Siargao depended on tourism, respect and accountability needed to come first. Alipayo, a native of the island, echoed her remarks on his own social media accounts.

Embassy stance and diplomatic considerations

The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines in an earlier statement before the 11 May incident, acknowledged the reported incidents with Israeli tourists and stated its commitment to cooperating with Philippine authorities. Deputy Chief of Mission Ariel Seidman appealed against generalising the behaviour of a small number of individuals.

"Israelis love the Philippines and Israelis want to come here and we want to be welcomed here… to kind of ruin this relationship because of a few people… that will be very sad to happen," Seidman said.

The embassy also noted that diplomatic efforts are underway to establish direct flights between Israel and the Philippines before the end of the year.

At the same time, embassy officials urged the public, including media, not to characterise all Israeli tourists by the conduct of those allegedly involved in individual incidents.

Tourism and law enforcement response

The Department of Tourism in the Caraga region (DOT-13) reported that two incidents involving Israeli tourists have been officially recorded to date. Israeli visitors comprise a small share of Siargao's foreign tourist population, which is dominated by travellers from France, the United States, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

DOT-13 has issued a code of conduct reminding all tourists, domestic and international, to respect local customs and regulations. "We really would encourage all guests of Siargao to observe local customs, respect the guidelines of the community and cooperate with everybody," said DOT-13 Regional Director Ivonnie Dumadag.

The Police Regional Office 13 has expanded its Bantay Turista programme to strengthen peace and order on the island. Local authorities have reiterated that misconduct will not be tolerated regardless of nationality. No further incidents have been reported as of 13 May 2026.