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It was the most frightening moment of his existence. During September 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five metres away from a blast at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The ISIS attack left 15 dead, among them his wife's brother. A five-month siege between the armed forces and the jihadist group in the city of Marawi came after.

“It cannot happen again in Davao,” Pendon says.

Years later, the shadow of IS reappears over one of the nation's largest cities, amid worldwide focus over the month-long stay in the city of the alleged Bondi attackers, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a massage technician at the night market, saw news of the attack on the news, but as with other residents surveyed, felt largely disconnected.

Even the 2016 attack is a traumatic event he is attempting to put behind him. A remembrance marker for the 2016 deaths stands in a section of the night market, appearing mismatched amid the joyful mood as crowds came there for food, massages and trinkets.

Ongoing Investigations Amid Holiday Celebrations

Probes regarding the Philippines activities of the duo is happening while the predominantly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been lit up by a towering Christmas tree, malls are packed, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“I was surprised 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. Officials have stated the investigation into their actions is active and the exact reason for their trip is still unclear.

“It is just a shame that real concerns are hijacked by extremism. Unfortunately, the story of savage attacks was unfairly glued to the region's identity,” said Karlos Manlupig, leader of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Safety History

Lorenzo is furthermore assured that no one could perpetrate another act of terror in the city long ruled by the political machine of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both famous and controversial – was established by aggressively securitising Davao through hardline law and order and drug war campaigns. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand checking bags.

The national government has rejected allegations that it was a hub for extremists for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of conflict and marginalization that has seen some Muslim separatist groups forge ties with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups persist, security officials say they are limited in size and diminished.

Investigators Trace Movements

What is evident, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two did not leave the city nor underwent weapons training in the country, as was earlier claimed.

Law enforcement have said they are “treating with gravity” the pair’s presence in the country as they reconstruct the movements of the pair during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are many locations the two could have gone to or had meetings in the vicinity. Dozens of establishments sit between the their accommodation and a close by Jollibee, where they were known to buy their meals.

Detectives are reviewing security camera video and following taxi trips to piece together their movements, and that every scenario are being explored.

Worries in Marawi Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with IS-linked militants in 2017, locals are anxious that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to increased security measures and deepen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must establish what took place.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be properly investigated and the intel should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into accusations against the region or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig lauded community efforts in improving the peace and order in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism was eradicated”. He said the country must address economic and social issues and political factors that motivate the impulses behind the conflict while “persist in promoting understanding and avoid prejudice and sectarianism”.