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This was the most terrifying experience of his existence. In 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five metres away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The Islamic State strike claimed 15 lives, among them his brother-in-law. A five-month siege between the army and the extremist group in the city of Marawi came after.

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

Nine years later, the specter of IS again looms over one of the nation's key cities, amid worldwide focus over the four-week stay in the city of the alleged Bondi attackers, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who works as a masseur at the night market, saw news of the Bondi incident on the news, but similar to other locals spoken to, felt predominantly disconnected.

Even the 2016 blast is a traumatic event he is trying to move on from. A memorial for the 2016 deaths sits in a part of the night market, looking mismatched amid the festive atmosphere as hundreds flocked there for food, massages and goods.

Current Probes Amid Holiday Cheer

Investigations into the visit to the country of the father and son coincides with the predominantly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a tall Christmas tree, malls are packed, and children knock on doors to sing carols.

“I was taken aback to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for sightseeing, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have made clear the investigation into their whereabouts is active and the exact reason for their trip is still unknown.

“It is unfortunate that legitimate grievances are hijacked by extremism. Regrettably, the story of savage attacks was incorrectly tied to Mindanao’s character,” stated Karlos Manlupig, executive director of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Security Record

Lorenzo is also confident that no one could perpetrate another act of terror in the city for a long time administered by the political machine of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both renowned and notorious – was built on heavily policing Davao through hardline anti-crime and drug war policies. At an entrance of the night market, at least four officers stand searching bags.

The authorities has rejected claims that it was a hub for extremists for the suspected 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, security officials say they are limited in size and diminished.

Authorities Piece Together Movements

What is certain, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two did not leave the city nor obtained military-style training in the country, as was earlier claimed.

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

Authorities say there are numerous places the two could have gone to or connected with associates in the vicinity. Dozens of establishments sit between the hotel where they stayed and a nearby Jollibee, where they were understood to buy their food.

Officers are analyzing security camera video and following taxi trips to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that every scenario are being considered.

Concerns in Marawi City Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with IS-linked militants in 2017, residents are concerned that renewed associations with terrorism could lead to tighter restrictions and increase prejudice against Muslims.

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

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

Manlupig commended community efforts in strengthening the security situation in Davao City but he said “it is not true that terrorism was eradicated”. He said the country must tackle root causes and political factors that motivate the reasons behind the violence while “keep advocating for acceptance and avoid bias and division”.