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This was the most terrifying moment of his existence. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five meters away from a blast at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The IS strike left 15 dead, among them his wife's brother. A five-month conflict between the army and the militant group in Marawi ensued.

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

Nine years later, the specter of IS reappears over one of the Philippines’ major cities, during global attention over the four-week stay in the city of the alleged Bondi attackers, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a massage technician at the night market, saw news of the attack on the television, but like other locals spoken to, felt largely detached.

The 2016 bombing is a traumatic event he is attempting to put behind him. A memorial for the 2016 fatalities sits in a corner of the night market, seeming incongruous amid the joyful environment as crowds came there for food, massages and goods.

Ongoing Inquiries Amid Festive Cheer

Probes regarding the time in the Philippines of the father and son comes as the overwhelmingly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been adorned with a large Christmas tree, shopping centers are busy, 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 violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have stated the investigation into their actions is continuing and the precise reason for their trip is as yet uncertain.

“It is simply regrettable that real concerns are co-opted by radicalism. Unfortunately, the story of savage attacks was incorrectly tied to the region's identity,” stated Karlos Manlupig, executive director of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Policing Record

Lorenzo is additionally certain that no one could carry out another terror attack in the city long ruled by the clan of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both famous and controversial – was established by heavily policing Davao through strict anti-crime and anti-drug policies. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand searching bags.

The national government has denied suggestions that it was a hub for extremists for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of instability and marginalisation that has seen some Islamic independence movements form alliances with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups still exist, authorities say they are limited in size and degraded.

Authorities Trace Movements

What is clear, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two never left the city nor obtained weapons training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Police have said they are “treating with gravity” the duo's stay in the country as they map out the actions of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Investigators say there are many locations the two could have visited or connected with associates in the vicinity. Many of establishments sit between the GV Hotel and a local Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their food.

Officers are analyzing security camera video and tracing transport records to piece together their itinerary, and that every scenario are being considered.

Fears in the Region Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, locals are worried that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to increased security measures and increase bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a faculty member at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must determine what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be thoroughly examined and the intel should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into finger-pointing against the region or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig praised community efforts in improving the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must confront economic and social issues and governance challenges that motivate the impulses behind the conflict while “persist in promoting understanding and steer clear of discrimination and division”.