Attack on Siargao Café Raises Concerns for Local Safety

(SPOT.ph) Before dawn on May 11, 2026, two foreigners allegedly disabled the CCTV cameras of Cartoon Café in General Luna, Siargao, before physically assaulting the owners—an incident the local government has since condemned as an act of “violence and lawlessness.” Witnesses identified the men as Israelis.

"We strongly condemn the recent act of violence and lawlessness that occurred in General Luna, where allegedly two unidentified individuals reportedly attacked and mauled the owners (husband and wife) of a certain establishment. Such a blatant disregard for personhood and public order has no place in our community," General Luna LGU said in a statement. "The incident is not just an attack on an individual or a business; it is an affront to the safety and security of every Lunian and visitor."

Family members of the owners, including at least one minor, reportedly saw the attack. Another witness emerged from the incident with a swollen face and a black eye. Photos of the café after the incident showed damage to its facade, where a pro-Palestine flag was also seen hanging.

The local government of General Luna called for those who witnessed the incident to share information, submit evidence, and continue being vigilant, assuring the public the investigation is ongoing despite a lack of leads.

The Cartoon Café incident follows an emerging trend of run-ins with foreign nationals in the island, though some reports go as far back as 2023. Several incidents before the alleged assault have prompted Dana Kursh, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, to make clear that misbehavior by Israeli tourists will not be tolerated: "If there’s an Israeli tourist who had done wrong, he should be addressed, but we [urge you] not to paint all Israeli tourists here as rotten apples, because that’s very far from the truth."

As Siargao’s local tourism industry continues to grow, the “island life” that frequent visitors once vouched for as a zen experience has become harder to protect.

Sofia Nicole de Asis of Siargao-based NGO Project Paradise told Arab News that they have received reports of tourists disrespecting local customs and values, “ranging from noise disturbances, reckless driving, disregard for modesty in dress in rural areas, to environmental irresponsibility such as leaving trash on beaches or protected areas.” Some establishments like Malaysian restaurant RASA have even announced their right to refuse service to Israeli tourists in response to the disrespect.

Following the alleged incident in General Luna, Kursh purportedly called for a meeting the next day, May 12, with the community and the local government to discuss what happened. However, she did not show up.

Members of the local community note that she sent no representative in her stead, ultimately resulting in a town hall with no Israeli delegate.

When asked about her non-attendance, Kursh told reporters: "I really wanted to be there, too. I came here to listen, understand, learn, and interact with people. I really wanted to come. But as an ambassador, there are set of protocols that I have to follow." She added that the dialogue was originally meant to be a closed meeting for invited guests who had registered beforehand, but that many people who were not registered entered the open hall.

SPOT.ph reached out to residents of Siargao present at the town hall for comment.

"We all changed our schedules. Around 50 people signed up for that meeting," one representative told SPOT.ph. "[A local business owner] even helped organize it. We all followed protocol and were there for the set time, 9 a.m. But we ended up waiting for an hour and a half for the mayor and vice mayor."

Representatives from the Philippine National Police and the General Luna Fire Department showed up at around 11:30 a.m. and were at least able to speak with the community about safety issues in Siargao.