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This was the scariest experience of his life. In the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five metres away from a detonation at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The ISIS assault killed 15, among them his brother-in-law. A prolonged siege between the armed forces and the jihadist group in Marawi ensued.

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

Nearly a decade later, the shadow of IS again looms over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, amidst global attention over the four-week stay in the city of the suspected Bondi attackers, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a massage technician at the night market, learned of Bondi on the television, but similar to other residents surveyed, felt mostly disconnected.

The 2016 bombing is a painful recollection he is working to forget. A monument for the 2016 fatalities stands in a section of the night market, appearing incongruous amidst the joyful environment as crowds flocked there for meals, massages and goods.

Current Investigations Amid Holiday Preparations

Probes regarding the visit to the country of the father and son coincides with the overwhelmingly Catholic nation is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been adorned with a large Christmas tree, shopping centers are crowded, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“I was taken aback to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for sightseeing, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have emphasized the inquiry into their whereabouts is active and the true reason for their trip is as yet uncertain.

“It is just regrettable that real concerns are hijacked by extremism. Regrettably, the narrative of brutal violence was wrongly attached to the island's identity,” noted Karlos Manlupig, executive director of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Policing Record

Lorenzo is additionally confident that no one could carry out another act of terror in the city historically governed by the clan of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both famous and notorious – was established by aggressively securitising Davao through tough anti-crime and drug war campaigns. At an entrance of the night market, at least four personnel stand checking bags.

The national government has denied suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of conflict and marginalisation that has seen some local militant factions establish links with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups persist, security officials say they are limited in size and weakened.

Authorities Piece Together Activities

What is clear, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two never left the city nor underwent military-style 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 month-long stay in Davao City.

Investigators say there are several locations the two could have visited or had meetings in the neighborhood. Scores of businesses sit between the GV Hotel and a nearby popular fast food chain, where they were understood to buy their meals.

Police are analyzing CCTV footage and tracing taxi trips to piece together their itinerary, and that every scenario are being entertained.

Concerns in Marawi City Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, inhabitants are concerned that fresh terrorist labels could lead to heightened securitisation and increase bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must determine what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be thoroughly examined and the intel should provide clear and truthful answers without converting questions into finger-pointing against Mindanao or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig lauded local initiatives in enhancing the security situation in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that terrorism was eradicated”. He said the country must tackle economic and social issues and governance challenges that drive the reasons behind the unrest while “keep advocating for understanding and prevent bias and division”.