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That was the scariest moment of his life. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five metres away from a detonation at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The IS strike claimed 15 lives, among them his brother-in-law. A lengthy conflict between the army and the extremist group in Marawi came after.

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

Nine years later, the shadow of IS once more hangs over one of the country's key cities, amid worldwide focus over the 28-day stay in the city of the alleged Bondi attackers, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a masseur at the night market, heard about Bondi on the media, but like other locals spoken to, felt largely detached.

Even the 2016 attack is a bad memory he is trying to move on from. A remembrance marker for the 2016 deaths stands in a part of the night market, looking out of place against the celebratory atmosphere as crowds came there for meals, massages and trinkets.

Active Inquiries Amid Christmas Celebrations

Examinations of the visit to the country of the duo is happening while the overwhelmingly Catholic nation is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been adorned with a large Christmas tree, shopping centers are packed, and children knock on doors to perform Christmas songs.

“I was taken aback 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. Officials have emphasized the inquiry into their whereabouts is continuing and the exact reason for their trip is remains unknown.

“It is just a shame that valid issues are hijacked by extremism. Regrettably, the story of savage attacks was unfairly glued to Mindanao’s character,” noted Karlos Manlupig, executive director of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Policing History

Lorenzo is furthermore assured that no one could carry out another act of terror in the city for a long time governed by the political machine of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both notable and infamous – was built on heavily policing Davao through tough anti-crime and drug war initiatives. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand searching bags.

The national government has pushed back against allegations that it was a hub for extremists for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of instability 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 small and weakened.

Authorities Piece Together Movements

What is clear, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two never left the city nor received combat training in the country, as was previously alleged.

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

Police say there are many establishments the two could have gone to or met contacts in the neighborhood. Many of establishments sit between the GV Hotel and a close by popular fast food chain, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Detectives are examining surveillance tapes and tracing taxi trips to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that any potential lead are being explored.

Worries in Marawi City Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, locals are anxious that new accusations of extremism could lead to heightened securitisation and worsen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must establish what happened.

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

Manlupig commended civic actions in improving the peace and order in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that radicalism magically vanished”. He said the country must tackle root causes and political factors that fuel the impulses behind the unrest while “keep advocating for tolerance and steer clear of bias and sectarianism”.