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It was the most frightening moment of his existence. During September 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a detonation at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The ISIS assault left 15 dead, among them his brother-in-law. A prolonged battle between the army and the jihadist group in Marawi followed.

“It won’t take place again in Davao,” Pendon asserts.

Nine years later, the specter of IS again looms over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, amid worldwide focus over the month-long stay in the city of the alleged Bondi attackers, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, saw news of the Bondi incident on the television, but like other residents surveyed, felt largely removed.

The 2016 blast is a traumatic event he is attempting to put behind him. A monument for the 2016 fatalities is placed in a section of the night market, appearing mismatched amid the celebratory atmosphere as many people came there for food, massages and trinkets.

Current Probes Amid Holiday Preparations

Investigations into the Philippines activities of the duo comes as the predominantly Catholic nation is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been decorated with a large Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“I was taken aback to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for travel, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have made clear the inquiry into their whereabouts is continuing and the exact reason for their visit is as yet unknown.

“It is simply regrettable that real concerns are hijacked by extremism. Regrettably, the reputation of extreme conflict was unfairly glued to the region's character,” noted Karlos Manlupig, leader of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Policing Legacy

Lorenzo is furthermore assured that nobody could perpetrate another terror attack in the city historically governed by the clan of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both notable and infamous – was forged through aggressively securitising Davao through tough law and order and drug war policies. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four officers stand inspecting bags.

The authorities has pushed back against allegations that it was a terrorist training ground for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of instability and disenfranchisement that has seen some Islamic independence movements form alliances with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups remain present, experts say they are limited in size and weakened.

Authorities Reconstruct Whereabouts

What is certain, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor obtained military-style training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Investigators have said they are “not taking lightly” the pair’s visit in the country as they reconstruct the movements of the father and son during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are many places the two could have visited or connected with associates in the vicinity. Many of outlets sit between the hotel where they stayed and a close by restaurant, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Officers are examining security camera video and tracing transport records to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that any potential lead are being considered.

Concerns in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with extremist groups in 2017, locals are worried that new accusations of extremism could lead to tighter restrictions and increase bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a faculty member at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must determine what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] time here should be carefully probed and the intelligence should provide accurate and honest answers without transforming doubt into accusations against Mindanao or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig lauded civic actions in enhancing the security situation in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that terrorism simply disappeared”. He said the country must tackle socioeconomic factors and governance challenges that fuel the motivations behind the unrest while “keep advocating for understanding and prevent discrimination and division”.