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It was the scariest time of his existence. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five meters away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The IS attack left 15 dead, among them his brother-in-law. A prolonged battle between the armed forces and the extremist group in the city of Marawi followed.

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

Nine years later, the specter of IS again looms over one of the country's key cities, amid global attention over the 28-day stay in the city of the alleged Bondi suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who makes a living as a massage therapist at the night market, learned of the attack on the media, but as with other residents surveyed, felt largely detached.

The 2016 blast is a bad memory he is working to forget. A memorial for the 2016 deaths is placed in a part of the night market, appearing mismatched amid the festive mood as crowds gathered there for meals, massages and souvenirs.

Current Inquiries Amid Festive Celebrations

Probes regarding the time in the Philippines of the duo coincides with the overwhelmingly Catholic nation is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been decorated with a towering Christmas tree, shopping centers are crowded, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for tourism, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Officials have emphasized the probe into their actions is continuing and the precise reason for their stay is remains uncertain.

“It is just a shame that valid issues are co-opted by terrorism. Regrettably, the reputation of brutal violence was unfairly glued to Mindanao’s character,” stated Karlos Manlupig, leader of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Security Record

Lorenzo is also confident that nobody could execute another act of terror in the city historically governed by the clan of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both notable and notorious – was built on aggressively securitising Davao through hardline law and order and anti-drug initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand checking 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 unrest and marginalisation that has seen some Muslim separatist groups forge ties with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups remain present, security officials say they are limited in size and degraded.

Investigators Reconstruct Movements

What is evident, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two never left the city nor obtained combat training in the country, as was earlier claimed.

Police have said they are “not taking lightly” the pair’s stay in the country as they map out the actions of the father and son during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous places the two could have frequented or met contacts in the vicinity. Dozens of establishments sit between the their accommodation and a local restaurant, where they were understood to buy their meals.

Police are examining security camera video and tracking transport records to reconstruct their movements, and that every scenario are being entertained.

Fears in the Region Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with extremist groups in 2017, locals are anxious that renewed accusations of extremism could lead to heightened securitisation and increase discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must determine what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be thoroughly examined and the intelligence should provide clear and truthful answers without turning uncertainty into finger-pointing against its people or its people,” he said.

Manlupig praised local initiatives in strengthening the security situation 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 drive the impulses behind the unrest while “continue pushing for acceptance and steer clear of bias and polarization”.