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It was the most terrifying time of his life. In September 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five meters away from a detonation at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The IS strike claimed 15 lives, including his brother-in-law. A five-month battle between the armed forces and the militant group in Marawi City followed.

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

Nine years later, the threat of IS again looms over one of the Philippines’ major cities, during worldwide focus over the four-week stay in the city of the accused Bondi suspects, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a massage technician at the night market, learned of Bondi on the news, but similar to other locals spoken to, felt mostly detached.

Even the 2016 attack is a bad memory he is attempting to put behind him. A monument for the 2016 victims sits in a part of the night market, appearing mismatched amid the festive atmosphere as hundreds came there for meals, massages and goods.

Ongoing Investigations Amid Holiday Celebrations

Examinations of the Philippines activities of the duo coincides with the mostly Catholic nation is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a large Christmas tree, shopping centers 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 travel, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. The government have stated the inquiry into their activities is ongoing and the exact reason for their stay is still unclear.

“It is a shame that valid issues are hijacked by extremism. Unfortunately, the reputation of brutal violence was incorrectly tied to the region's image,” noted Karlos Manlupig, leader of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Security History

Lorenzo is additionally confident that nobody could execute another terrorist strike in the city for a long time administered by the political machine of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both notable and notorious – was established by heavily policing Davao through tough law and order and drug war initiatives. At one entrance of the night market, at least four personnel stand checking bags.

The authorities has denied claims that it was a hub for extremists for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of instability and marginalization that has seen some local militant factions forge ties with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, security officials say they are small and diminished.

Investigators Reconstruct Activities

What is certain, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two never left the city nor underwent weapons training in the country, as was previously alleged.

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

Authorities say there are numerous locations the two could have visited or met contacts in the area. Many of outlets sit between the their accommodation and a close by Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Officers are reviewing surveillance tapes and tracing taxi trips to establish their itinerary, and that any potential lead are being entertained.

Concerns in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, inhabitants are concerned that fresh associations with terrorism could lead to heightened securitisation and worsen discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must determine what happened.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be properly investigated and the intel should provide transparent and factual answers without converting questions into blame against its people or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig commended community efforts in enhancing the security situation in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism was eradicated”. He said the country must confront economic and social issues and political factors that drive the impulses behind the conflict while “persist in promoting understanding and avoid bias and division”.