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That was the most frightening moment of his life. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a detonation at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The Islamic State attack killed 15, among them his wife's brother. A five-month battle between the army and the extremist group in the city of Marawi followed.

“It won’t occur again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Nearly a decade later, the shadow of IS once more hangs over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, amid worldwide focus over the month-long stay in the city of the suspected Bondi attackers, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who works as a masseur at the night market, learned of Bondi on the television, but similar to other citizens surveyed, felt largely removed.

The 2016 attack is a painful recollection he is working to forget. A memorial for the 2016 victims stands in a part of the night market, appearing incongruous against the festive mood as crowds flocked there for meals, massages and trinkets.

Current Probes Amid Holiday Celebrations

Examinations of the Philippines activities of the duo is happening while the overwhelmingly Catholic country is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been decorated with a tall Christmas tree, shopping centers are crowded, and children knock on doors to sing carols.

“It surprised me 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. The government have emphasized the inquiry into their actions is continuing and the true reason for their trip is remains unknown.

“It is simply a shame that valid issues are exploited by extremism. Sadly, the story of extreme conflict was wrongly attached to Mindanao’s character,” stated Karlos Manlupig, leader of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Policing Legacy

Lorenzo is also assured that nobody could execute another terror attack in the city long governed by the clan of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both renowned and notorious – was forged through heavily policing Davao through strict law and order and anti-drug campaigns. At an entrance of the night market, at least four guards stand checking bags.

The national government has rejected suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of conflict and marginalization that has seen some Islamic independence movements forge ties with overseas extremist organizations. 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 received combat training in the country, as was initially suggested.

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

Investigators say there are numerous establishments the two could have gone to or connected with associates in the vicinity. Dozens of businesses sit between the GV Hotel and a close by Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their food.

Detectives are examining CCTV footage and tracking transport records to establish their itinerary, and that any potential lead are being considered.

Concerns in Marawi City Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with IS-linked militants in 2017, residents are worried that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to increased security measures and deepen bias against Muslims.

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

“[The Akrams’] stay should be thoroughly examined and the information should provide accurate and honest answers without turning uncertainty into finger-pointing against the region or its people,” he said.

Manlupig praised civic actions in improving the security situation in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must tackle economic and social issues and governance challenges that drive the impulses behind the conflict while “continue pushing for tolerance and steer clear of prejudice and sectarianism”.