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This was the scariest moment of his life. During the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a detonation at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The ISIS attack left 15 dead, among them his wife's brother. A five-month battle between the armed forces and the extremist group in Marawi City followed.

“It cannot take place again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Nearly a decade later, the shadow of IS again looms over one of the nation's major cities, during worldwide focus over the month-long stay in the city of the suspected Bondi suspects, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a massage technician at the night market, saw news of Bondi on the television, but as with other locals interviewed, felt largely detached.

Even the 2016 attack is a traumatic event he is trying to move on from. A memorial for the 2016 deaths sits in a section of the night market, looking out of place amid the celebratory atmosphere as crowds came there for meals, massages and souvenirs.

Active Investigations Amid Holiday Preparations

Investigations into the visit to the country of the father and son coincides with the mostly Catholic nation is gearing up 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 sing carols.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for travel, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Officials have emphasized the investigation into their actions is ongoing and the precise reason for their trip is as yet unclear.

“It is just a shame that valid issues are hijacked by extremism. Regrettably, the reputation of brutal violence was incorrectly tied to the island's identity,” noted Karlos Manlupig, leader of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Security Legacy

Lorenzo is additionally confident that no one could carry out another act of terror in the city historically administered by the clan of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both renowned and infamous – was forged through aggressively securitising Davao through hardline law and order and drug war initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at least four officers stand searching bags.

The Philippine government has denied suggestions that it was a base for militant training for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of instability and marginalization that has seen some Muslim separatist groups form alliances with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups remain present, security officials say they are small and degraded.

Police Reconstruct Activities

What is evident, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor received military-style training in the country, as was previously alleged.

Law enforcement have said they are “treating with gravity” the pair’s presence in the country as they piece together the movements of the father and son during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Investigators say there are several locations the two could have frequented or connected with associates in the area. Dozens of outlets sit between the hotel where they stayed and a nearby Jollibee, where they were understood to buy their meals.

Officers are reviewing surveillance tapes and tracing cab rides to piece together their movements, and that any potential lead are being considered.

Fears in Marawi Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with IS-linked militants in 2017, inhabitants are concerned that renewed accusations of extremism could lead to heightened securitisation and increase discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must establish what took place.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be carefully probed and the information should provide accurate and honest answers without converting questions into blame against the region or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig praised civic actions in improving the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that radicalism was eradicated”. He said the country must tackle root causes and governance challenges that motivate the reasons behind the unrest while “continue pushing for understanding and prevent prejudice and division”.