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This was the scariest moment of his existence. During the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five metres away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The IS attack left 15 dead, including his wife's brother. A lengthy siege between the armed forces and the jihadist group in Marawi City came after.

“It cannot take place again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Years later, the threat of IS again looms over one of the country's major cities, during global attention over the 28-day stay in the city of the accused Bondi attackers, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, heard about the Bondi incident on the news, but similar to other residents surveyed, felt largely disconnected.

The 2016 attack is a painful recollection he is trying to move on from. A monument for the 2016 victims stands in a corner of the night market, looking out of place amidst the joyful mood as crowds gathered there for meals, massages and goods.

Current Investigations Amid Christmas Celebrations

Probes regarding the visit to the country of the duo comes as the overwhelmingly Catholic country is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been adorned with a tall Christmas tree, malls are packed, and children knock on doors to perform Christmas songs.

“I was surprised to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for travel, 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 true reason for their stay is remains unclear.

“It is just a shame that valid issues are hijacked by terrorism. Unfortunately, the reputation of extreme conflict was incorrectly tied to the island's identity,” stated Karlos Manlupig, executive director of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Policing Record

Lorenzo is also confident that nobody could perpetrate another terrorist strike in the city historically administered by the political machine of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both notable and notorious – was built on heavily policing Davao through strict anti-crime and anti-drug campaigns. At an entrance of the night market, at least four officers stand searching bags.

The Philippine government has pushed back against claims that it was a base for militant training for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of instability and marginalisation that has seen some Islamic independence movements forge ties with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, experts say they are small and degraded.

Investigators Reconstruct Activities

What is certain, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor obtained weapons training in the country, as was previously alleged.

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

Police say there are many locations the two could have frequented or connected with associates in the neighborhood. Many of businesses sit between the GV Hotel and a close by Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Officers are examining security camera video and tracking transport records to piece together their movements, and that all possibilities are being entertained.

Concerns in Marawi City Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, locals are anxious that new associations with terrorism could lead to tighter restrictions and increase discrimination against Muslims.

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

“[The Akrams’] stay should be thoroughly examined and the intelligence should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into finger-pointing against the region or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig praised local initiatives in strengthening the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that radicalism magically vanished”. He said the country must address economic and social issues and governance challenges that motivate the motivations behind the unrest while “persist in promoting acceptance and avoid bias and division”.