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That was the most frightening time of his existence. In 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five metres away from a blast at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The ISIS strike killed 15, including his brother-in-law. A lengthy conflict between the army and the militant group in Marawi City came after.

“It will not take place again in Davao,” Pendon asserts.

Years later, the specter of IS reappears over one of the Philippines’ key cities, amid global attention over the 28-day stay in the city of the alleged Bondi suspects, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a massage technician at the night market, learned of the Bondi incident on the television, but as with other citizens spoken to, felt mostly detached.

The 2016 attack is a bad memory he is attempting to put behind him. A remembrance marker for the 2016 deaths sits in a section of the night market, looking incongruous amid the celebratory atmosphere as many people gathered there for food, massages and goods.

Ongoing Investigations Amid Christmas Celebrations

Probes regarding the visit to the country of the father and son is happening while the predominantly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a towering Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children knock on doors to perform Christmas songs.

“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. Authorities have stated the inquiry into their activities is continuing and the exact reason for their stay is as yet unknown.

“It is a shame that valid issues are hijacked by extremism. Unfortunately, the reputation of savage attacks was unfairly glued to the region's character,” said Karlos Manlupig, executive director of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Safety History

Lorenzo is furthermore assured that no one could carry out another terror attack in the city long governed by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both renowned and notorious – was forged through heavily policing Davao through strict anti-crime and anti-drug initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand checking bags.

The authorities has denied allegations that it was a base for militant training for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of unrest and disenfranchisement that has seen some local militant factions establish links with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups remain present, experts say they are small and degraded.

Authorities Piece Together Activities

What is evident, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two never left the city nor obtained weapons training in the country, as was previously alleged.

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

Police say there are numerous locations the two could have visited or connected with associates in the area. Scores of businesses sit between the their accommodation and a local restaurant, where they were known to buy their meals.

Detectives are analyzing surveillance tapes and following transport records to reconstruct their movements, and that every scenario are being entertained.

Concerns in the Region Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with extremist groups in 2017, residents are worried that new accusations of extremism could lead to increased security measures and deepen bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must establish what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be thoroughly examined and the intelligence should provide transparent and factual answers without converting questions into blame against its people or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig commended civic actions in improving the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must tackle socioeconomic factors and governance challenges that motivate the reasons behind the unrest while “keep advocating for acceptance and prevent discrimination and sectarianism”.