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It was the most frightening time of his life. In 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five meters away from a bomb explosion at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The IS assault left 15 dead, including his brother-in-law. A five-month battle between the armed forces and the militant group in Marawi followed.

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

Years later, the threat of IS once more hangs over one of the nation's major cities, amid global attention over the four-week stay in the city of the alleged Bondi suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who is a a masseur at the night market, heard about the attack on the news, but similar to other locals interviewed, felt largely detached.

Even the 2016 bombing is a traumatic event he is attempting to put behind him. A remembrance marker for the 2016 deaths sits in a part of the night market, looking incongruous amidst the celebratory environment as crowds gathered there for food, massages and goods.

Active Inquiries Amid Festive Celebrations

Investigations into the visit to the country of the duo is happening while the overwhelmingly Catholic nation is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been lit up by a towering 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 tourism, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. The government have emphasized the inquiry into their activities is continuing and the true reason for their trip is still unclear.

“It is just regrettable that real concerns are hijacked by radicalism. Unfortunately, the story of extreme conflict was wrongly attached to the region's character,” said Karlos Manlupig, head of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Safety Legacy

Lorenzo is additionally assured that no one could perpetrate another terror attack in the city historically ruled by the clan of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both renowned and controversial – was built on tightly securing Davao through strict anti-crime and drug war initiatives. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand inspecting bags.

The national government has denied allegations that it was a hub for extremists for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of conflict and marginalisation that has seen some Islamic independence movements establish links with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups persist, experts say they are small and weakened.

Police Piece Together Activities

What is clear, commented 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.

Investigators have said they are “treating with gravity” the father and son's stay in the country as they reconstruct the movements of the suspects during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are several locations the two could have visited or had meetings in the neighborhood. Scores of establishments sit between the hotel where they stayed and a nearby popular fast food chain, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Detectives are analyzing surveillance tapes and following taxi trips to reconstruct their itinerary, and that every scenario are being considered.

Worries in Marawi City Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, inhabitants are anxious that fresh terrorist labels could lead to increased security measures and worsen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must establish what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] time here should be thoroughly examined and the intelligence should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into finger-pointing against Mindanao or its people,” he said.

Manlupig commended local initiatives in improving the security situation in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that radicalism magically vanished”. He said the country must address economic and social issues and political factors that drive the motivations behind the violence while “persist in promoting acceptance and avoid discrimination and sectarianism”.