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That was the most frightening moment of his existence. In the fall of 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 claimed 15 lives, among them his brother-in-law. A prolonged siege between the military and the extremist group in Marawi City followed.

“It cannot happen again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Nearly a decade later, the shadow of IS reappears over one of the nation's major cities, during worldwide focus over the month-long stay in the city of the suspected Bondi attackers, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, saw news of Bondi on the news, but as with other citizens surveyed, felt predominantly removed.

Even the 2016 attack is a painful recollection he is working to forget. A memorial for the 2016 victims is placed in a section of the night market, seeming incongruous amid the joyful atmosphere as crowds gathered there for meals, massages and goods.

Ongoing Investigations Amid Christmas Preparations

Examinations of the Philippines activities of the duo is happening while the mostly Catholic country is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been lit up by a towering Christmas tree, shopping centers are crowded, and children go door-to-door to sing carols.

“I was taken aback to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for travel, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. The government have emphasized the inquiry into their actions is continuing and the exact reason for their trip is as yet unclear.

“It is just regrettable that real concerns are hijacked by extremism. Sadly, the narrative of savage attacks was incorrectly tied to the region's identity,” said Karlos Manlupig, head of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Safety Legacy

Lorenzo is furthermore confident that nobody could carry out another terrorist strike in the city for a long time governed by the political machine of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both notable and controversial – was built on aggressively securitising Davao through hardline law and order and anti-drug policies. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand checking bags.

The authorities has rejected allegations that it was a terrorist training ground for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of unrest and marginalization 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.

Police Trace Whereabouts

What is certain, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two did not leave the city nor received military-style training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Investigators have said they are “treating with gravity” the father and son's presence in the country as they reconstruct the activities of the father and son during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are several locations the two could have visited or met contacts in the vicinity. Scores of establishments sit between the their accommodation and a local restaurant, where they were known to buy their meals.

Detectives are analyzing security camera video and tracing taxi trips to establish their itinerary, and that every scenario are being entertained.

Concerns in Marawi City Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, inhabitants are concerned that new terrorist labels could lead to increased security measures and worsen discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must determine what took place.

“[The Akrams’] time here should be thoroughly examined and the intel should provide accurate and honest answers without converting questions into blame against its people or its people,” he said.

Manlupig lauded local initiatives in strengthening the peace and order in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must address root causes and political factors that fuel the motivations behind the unrest while “keep advocating for tolerance and avoid bias and polarization”.