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This was the most frightening moment of his life. Back in 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five metres away from a bomb explosion at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The ISIS assault claimed 15 lives, among them his brother-in-law. A lengthy battle between the armed forces and the militant group in the city of Marawi followed.

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

Nearly a decade later, the shadow of IS again looms over one of the country's key cities, during global attention over the 28-day stay in the city of the suspected Bondi suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who makes a living as a massage therapist at the night market, learned of the Bondi incident on the television, but similar to other locals spoken to, felt mostly disconnected.

The 2016 blast is a traumatic event he is attempting to put behind him. A memorial for the 2016 victims sits in a part of the night market, appearing mismatched amidst the celebratory mood as many people came there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Active Probes Amid Christmas Preparations

Probes regarding the time in the Philippines of the father and son coincides with the overwhelmingly Catholic country is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been adorned with a towering Christmas tree, shopping centers 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 extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. The government have stated the probe into their actions is continuing and the exact reason for their stay is still unclear.

“It is just regrettable that valid issues are exploited by terrorism. Unfortunately, the story of brutal violence was unfairly glued to the island's image,” noted Karlos Manlupig, executive director of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Security Legacy

Lorenzo is also confident that no one could perpetrate another act of terror in the city long governed by the clan of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both famous and notorious – was forged through aggressively securitising Davao through hardline law and order and drug war policies. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four officers stand searching bags.

The Philippine government has denied suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of unrest and marginalization that has seen some Islamic independence movements forge ties with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups persist, security officials say they are limited in size and degraded.

Police Trace Whereabouts

What is evident, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two never left the city nor obtained combat training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Police have said they are “not taking lightly” the pair’s presence in the country as they map out the actions of the pair during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Investigators say there are many locations the two could have frequented or had meetings in the neighborhood. Scores of establishments sit between the hotel where they stayed and a close by restaurant, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Officers are examining CCTV footage and tracking transport records to piece together their whereabouts, and that any potential lead are being explored.

Worries in Marawi Over Stigma

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

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must find out what happened.

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

Manlupig lauded local initiatives in improving the security situation in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that radicalism simply disappeared”. He said the country must tackle socioeconomic factors and governance challenges that fuel the reasons behind the conflict while “persist in promoting understanding and prevent bias and polarization”.