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This was the scariest time of his life. Back in the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five meters away from a bomb explosion at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The Islamic State assault left 15 dead, including his brother-in-law. A lengthy battle between the army and the militant group in Marawi City ensued.

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

Nearly a decade later, the shadow of IS reappears over one of the country's major cities, during global attention over the month-long stay in the city of the alleged Bondi beach shooters, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who works as a massage therapist at the night market, saw news of the Bondi incident on the television, but as with other residents interviewed, felt largely removed.

The 2016 attack is a bad memory he is attempting to put behind him. A memorial for the 2016 victims is placed in a corner of the night market, seeming out of place amid the celebratory atmosphere as hundreds flocked there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Ongoing Investigations Amid Christmas Celebrations

Examinations of the Philippines activities of the duo coincides with the overwhelmingly Catholic nation is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been decorated with a tall Christmas tree, malls are packed, and children go door-to-door to sing carols.

“I was surprised to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for travel, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have stated the investigation into their actions is active and the exact reason for their trip is as yet uncertain.

“It is a shame that legitimate grievances are hijacked by terrorism. Unfortunately, the story of extreme conflict was unfairly glued to Mindanao’s identity,” said Karlos Manlupig, executive director of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Security Legacy

Lorenzo is additionally confident that nobody could perpetrate another act of terror in the city for a long time governed by the political machine of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both famous and notorious – was built on heavily policing Davao through strict anti-crime and drug war policies. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four officers stand inspecting bags.

The national government has denied allegations that it was a base for militant training for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of instability and marginalization that has seen some local militant factions form alliances with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, authorities say they are small and diminished.

Authorities Trace Whereabouts

What is evident, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor underwent weapons training in the country, as was earlier claimed.

Law enforcement have said they are “treating with gravity” the father and son's stay in the country as they reconstruct the movements of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are many places the two could have frequented or had meetings in the neighborhood. Scores of outlets sit between the GV Hotel and a close by popular fast food chain, where they were known to buy their food.

Detectives are analyzing surveillance tapes and following cab rides to establish their itinerary, and that any potential lead are being entertained.

Fears in Marawi Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with IS-linked militants in 2017, inhabitants are anxious that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to increased security measures and worsen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must find out what took place.

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

Manlupig lauded community efforts in enhancing the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism simply disappeared”. He said the country must tackle socioeconomic factors and political factors that motivate the motivations behind the conflict while “keep advocating for understanding and prevent bias and division”.