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This was the most frightening time of his life. In the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five meters away from a bomb explosion at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The Islamic State attack claimed 15 lives, among them his wife's brother. A lengthy siege between the army and the militant group in Marawi City came after.

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

Nine years later, the shadow of IS again looms over one of the country's largest cities, amid global attention over the month-long stay in the city of the alleged Bondi suspects, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a massage technician at the night market, heard about the attack on the media, but similar to other residents interviewed, felt mostly disconnected.

Even the 2016 blast is a traumatic event he is trying to move on from. A memorial for the 2016 fatalities is placed in a part of the night market, appearing mismatched amidst the celebratory atmosphere as crowds flocked there for meals, massages and trinkets.

Active Probes Amid Festive Celebrations

Examinations of the visit to the country of the father and son coincides with the predominantly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been adorned with a towering Christmas tree, malls are packed, and children knock on doors to sing carols.

“It surprised me 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. Officials have made clear the inquiry into their whereabouts is active and the exact reason for their visit is remains uncertain.

“It is unfortunate that real concerns are hijacked by extremism. Sadly, the narrative of savage attacks was unfairly glued to the region's character,” noted Karlos Manlupig, head of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Policing History

Lorenzo is additionally certain that nobody could carry out another terror attack in the city for a long time governed by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both renowned and controversial – was built on aggressively securitising Davao through strict anti-crime and anti-drug policies. At one entrance of the night market, at least four guards stand checking bags.

The authorities has pushed back against claims that it was a terrorist training ground for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of conflict and disenfranchisement that has seen some Islamic independence movements form alliances with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups persist, security officials say they are limited in size and weakened.

Investigators Reconstruct Whereabouts

What is certain, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two did not leave the city nor obtained weapons training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Law enforcement have said they are “taking seriously” the father and son's stay in the country as they piece together the movements of the suspects during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are numerous establishments the two could have visited or had meetings in the area. Dozens of establishments sit between the hotel where they stayed and a nearby restaurant, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Officers are reviewing surveillance tapes and following transport records to piece together their movements, and that all possibilities are being considered.

Fears in Marawi City Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with extremist groups in 2017, locals are anxious that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to heightened securitisation and deepen discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must determine what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be carefully probed and the intelligence should provide accurate and honest answers without turning uncertainty into finger-pointing against Mindanao or its people,” he said.

Manlupig commended civic actions in strengthening the security situation in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that terrorism magically vanished”. He said the country must tackle economic and social issues and governance challenges that drive the impulses behind the conflict while “keep advocating for understanding and prevent prejudice and sectarianism”.