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This was the most terrifying moment of his existence. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five meters away from a blast at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The ISIS assault left 15 dead, among them his wife's brother. A lengthy conflict between the military and the extremist group in Marawi City followed.

“It will not happen again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Nine years later, the threat of IS again looms over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, amid global attention over the month-long stay in the city of the suspected Bondi beach shooters, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who makes a living as a massage therapist at the night market, saw news of the attack on the television, but as with other citizens surveyed, felt predominantly removed.

The 2016 attack is a bad memory he is working to forget. A memorial for the 2016 deaths is placed in a section of the night market, seeming out of place amidst the celebratory atmosphere as many people flocked there for food, massages and goods.

Ongoing Inquiries Amid Christmas Celebrations

Investigations into the visit to the country of the pair is happening while the predominantly Catholic nation is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a tall Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children go door-to-door to sing carols.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for tourism, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have made clear the investigation into their whereabouts is active and the precise reason for their visit is remains uncertain.

“It is simply regrettable that legitimate grievances are hijacked by radicalism. Sadly, the story of extreme conflict was wrongly attached to Mindanao’s identity,” stated Karlos Manlupig, executive director of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Policing Legacy

Lorenzo is furthermore certain that nobody could perpetrate another act of terror in the city long ruled by the family of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both renowned and infamous – was forged through tightly securing Davao through tough law and order and anti-drug policies. At one entrance of the night market, at least four guards stand searching bags.

The authorities has pushed back against claims that it was a terrorist training ground for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of instability and disenfranchisement that has seen some local militant factions form alliances with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, security officials say they are limited in size and degraded.

Authorities Reconstruct Movements

What is clear, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor underwent combat training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Investigators have said they are “not taking lightly” the father and son's presence in the country as they map out the movements of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are numerous locations the two could have visited or had meetings in the area. Dozens of establishments sit between the GV Hotel and a close by Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their food.

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

Concerns in Marawi Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with extremist groups in 2017, inhabitants are worried that new associations with terrorism could lead to increased security measures and deepen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must find out what took place.

“[The Akrams’] time here should be thoroughly examined and the intelligence should provide transparent and factual answers without converting questions into accusations against Mindanao or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig commended civic actions in enhancing the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that radicalism magically vanished”. He said the country must confront socioeconomic factors and political factors that motivate the reasons behind the unrest while “keep advocating for understanding and avoid prejudice and polarization”.