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It was the scariest time of his life. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a blast at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The ISIS attack claimed 15 lives, including his brother-in-law. A prolonged conflict between the army and the jihadist group in the city of Marawi followed.

“It won’t occur again in Davao,” Pendon asserts.

Nine years later, the shadow of IS once more hangs over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, during global attention over the 28-day stay in the city of the alleged Bondi suspects, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who works as a masseur at the night market, saw news of the attack on the television, but similar to other locals surveyed, felt largely disconnected.

The 2016 attack is a traumatic event he is working to forget. A memorial for the 2016 fatalities sits in a corner of the night market, appearing incongruous against the celebratory environment as crowds flocked there for meals, massages and trinkets.

Current Investigations Amid Christmas Cheer

Examinations of the Philippines activities of the father and son comes as the overwhelmingly Catholic nation is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a towering Christmas tree, malls are crowded, and children knock on doors to perform Christmas songs.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for sightseeing, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. The government have made clear the probe into their actions is ongoing and the exact reason for their stay is as yet unclear.

“It is regrettable that legitimate grievances are co-opted by terrorism. Regrettably, the narrative of brutal violence was unfairly glued to Mindanao’s character,” stated Karlos Manlupig, head of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Policing History

Lorenzo is furthermore assured that no one could carry out another terrorist strike in the city for a long time administered by the clan of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both renowned and notorious – was built on heavily policing Davao through tough law and order and anti-drug policies. At one entrance of the night market, at least four guards stand inspecting 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 unrest and marginalization that has seen some Muslim separatist groups forge ties with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, experts say they are limited in size and degraded.

Police Reconstruct Movements

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

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

Investigators say there are many locations the two could have gone to or met contacts in the area. Scores of businesses sit between the their accommodation and a local Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Officers are examining CCTV footage and tracing transport records to reconstruct their itinerary, and that any potential lead are being considered.

Fears in Marawi City Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, residents are worried that renewed terrorist labels could lead to tighter restrictions and worsen discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a faculty member at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must establish what took place.

“[The Akrams’] time here should be carefully probed and the intel should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into blame against its people or its people,” he said.

Manlupig commended local initiatives in improving the peace and order in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must address economic and social issues and governance challenges that fuel the motivations behind the unrest while “continue pushing for acceptance and prevent discrimination and sectarianism”.