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This was the scariest moment of his existence. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a detonation at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The Islamic State strike killed 15, among them his wife's brother. A lengthy siege between the military and the jihadist group in Marawi City ensued.

“It won’t occur again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Nine years later, the specter of IS reappears over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, amidst global attention over the 28-day stay in the city of the accused Bondi attackers, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who works as a massage therapist at the night market, heard about Bondi on the media, but like other citizens surveyed, felt mostly detached.

Even the 2016 bombing is a traumatic event he is attempting to put behind him. A memorial for the 2016 fatalities sits in a part of the night market, appearing out of place amidst the festive mood as hundreds came there for food, massages and trinkets.

Current Inquiries Amid Christmas Preparations

Investigations into the time in the Philippines of the father and son comes as the overwhelmingly Catholic country is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been adorned with a large Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children knock on doors to sing carols.

“I was surprised to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for sightseeing, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Officials have stated the inquiry into their actions is ongoing and the exact reason for their visit is still uncertain.

“It is just regrettable that real concerns are hijacked by radicalism. Unfortunately, the reputation of extreme conflict was unfairly glued to the island's character,” said Karlos Manlupig, leader of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Security Legacy

Lorenzo is also confident that no one could execute another terror attack in the city historically administered by the political machine of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both famous and infamous – was built on tightly securing Davao through strict law and order and drug war campaigns. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four officers stand searching bags.

The Philippine government has pushed back against suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of unrest and marginalisation that has seen some Islamic independence movements establish links with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups persist, experts say they are limited in size and weakened.

Investigators Reconstruct Activities

What is evident, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two did not leave the city nor obtained military-style training in the country, as was previously alleged.

Law enforcement have said they are “not taking lightly” the pair’s stay in the country as they reconstruct the actions of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous places the two could have frequented or connected with associates in the neighborhood. Many of establishments sit between the hotel where they stayed and a close by popular fast food chain, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Officers are analyzing security camera video and tracking cab rides to establish their whereabouts, and that every scenario are being explored.

Fears in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, locals are anxious that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to tighter restrictions and deepen discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must find out what took place.

“[The Akrams’] time here should be properly investigated and the intelligence should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into accusations against its people or its people,” he said.

Manlupig commended local initiatives in enhancing the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that terrorism magically vanished”. He said the country must tackle socioeconomic factors and political factors that fuel the motivations behind the violence while “keep advocating for acceptance and avoid discrimination and division”.