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That was the most frightening moment of his existence. In the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five metres away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The ISIS strike killed 15, including his wife's brother. A prolonged conflict between the army and the extremist group in Marawi ensued.

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

Years later, the threat of IS reappears over one of the nation's largest cities, during international scrutiny over the month-long stay in the city of the accused Bondi suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who works as a massage technician at the night market, learned of the attack on the media, but as with other residents surveyed, felt largely disconnected.

The 2016 bombing is a traumatic event he is attempting to put behind him. A monument for the 2016 fatalities is placed in a section of the night market, seeming incongruous against the joyful atmosphere as crowds came there for meals, massages and trinkets.

Current Investigations Amid Holiday Cheer

Examinations of the visit to the country of the father and son coincides with the mostly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a large Christmas tree, malls are crowded, and children knock on doors to perform Christmas songs.

“I was taken aback to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for tourism, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have stated the investigation into their actions is active and the exact reason for their visit is remains unknown.

“It is just a shame that valid issues are co-opted by terrorism. Unfortunately, the narrative of brutal violence was unfairly glued to Mindanao’s character,” noted Karlos Manlupig, leader of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Policing Record

Lorenzo is furthermore confident that no one could perpetrate another terrorist strike in the city long governed by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both renowned and notorious – was forged through tightly securing Davao through hardline anti-crime and drug war initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand checking bags.

The national government has rejected suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of instability and disenfranchisement that has seen some local militant factions establish links with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups remain present, authorities say they are limited in size and diminished.

Investigators Reconstruct Activities

What is certain, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor received combat training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Police have said they are “not taking lightly” the duo's presence in the country as they reconstruct the movements of the suspects during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are numerous places the two could have gone to or met contacts in the neighborhood. Scores of establishments sit between the their accommodation and a close by restaurant, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Officers are examining CCTV footage and tracking taxi trips to reconstruct their movements, and that any potential lead are being explored.

Worries in Marawi Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with extremist groups in 2017, residents are worried that new terrorist labels could lead to increased security measures and deepen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must find out what took place.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be thoroughly examined and the intelligence should provide accurate and honest answers without turning uncertainty into finger-pointing against the region or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig lauded community efforts in enhancing the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “it is not true that terrorism magically vanished”. He said the country must address socioeconomic factors and governance challenges that fuel the reasons behind the violence while “keep advocating for acceptance and prevent discrimination and polarization”.