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This was the scariest time of his life. In the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five metres away from a blast at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The ISIS strike killed 15, among them his brother-in-law. A lengthy battle between the armed forces and the militant group in the city of Marawi followed.

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

Nine years later, the threat of IS reappears over one of the country's largest cities, amidst global attention over the four-week stay in the city of the suspected Bondi beach shooters, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who makes a living as a massage therapist at the night market, learned of the Bondi incident on the media, but as with other citizens spoken to, felt predominantly detached.

The 2016 blast is a traumatic event he is trying to move on from. A remembrance marker for the 2016 fatalities is placed in a corner of the night market, appearing mismatched amid the celebratory mood as many people gathered there for food, massages and goods.

Ongoing Inquiries Amid Christmas Preparations

Probes regarding the Philippines activities of the pair coincides with the mostly Catholic nation is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been decorated with a tall Christmas tree, malls 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 extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have made clear the inquiry into their whereabouts is active and the precise reason for their trip is remains uncertain.

“It is regrettable that real concerns are exploited by extremism. Regrettably, the story of extreme conflict was unfairly glued to the region's character,” said Karlos Manlupig, head of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Policing Legacy

Lorenzo is also assured that no one could perpetrate another terror attack in the city historically administered by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both renowned and infamous – was built on tightly securing Davao through tough anti-crime and drug war policies. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand searching bags.

The national government has pushed back against suggestions that it was a hub for extremists for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of unrest and marginalization that has seen some Islamic independence movements forge ties with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, security officials say they are limited in size and diminished.

Authorities Trace Activities

What is evident, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two did not leave the city nor obtained weapons training in the country, as was earlier claimed.

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

Authorities say there are many establishments the two could have visited or met contacts in the area. Many of establishments sit between the GV Hotel and a close by restaurant, where they were understood to buy their food.

Police are reviewing surveillance tapes and tracking transport records to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that all possibilities are being entertained.

Concerns in the Region Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, locals are worried that renewed accusations of extremism could lead to tighter restrictions and worsen prejudice against Muslims.

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

“[The Akrams’] visit should be carefully probed and the information should provide accurate and honest answers without turning uncertainty into blame against Mindanao or its people,” he said.

Manlupig praised local initiatives in strengthening the peace and order in Davao City but he said “it is not true that radicalism was eradicated”. He said the country must confront root causes and political factors that drive the reasons behind the conflict while “keep advocating for acceptance and avoid discrimination and division”.