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This was the most frightening moment of his life. In September 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five metres away from a detonation at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The IS strike killed 15, among them his wife's brother. A five-month conflict between the army and the extremist group in Marawi City followed.

“It cannot occur again in Davao,” Pendon says.

Nearly a decade later, the threat of IS once more hangs over one of the nation's major cities, amidst global attention over the 28-day stay in the city of the suspected Bondi beach shooters, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who works as a massage therapist at the night market, learned of Bondi on the media, but like other locals surveyed, felt largely detached.

Even the 2016 bombing is a traumatic event he is working to forget. A memorial for the 2016 victims stands in a corner of the night market, appearing mismatched against the celebratory environment as many people flocked there for food, massages and goods.

Current Investigations Amid Holiday Celebrations

Investigations into the Philippines activities of the father and son is happening while the overwhelmingly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been adorned with a large Christmas tree, malls are crowded, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“I was taken aback to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for tourism, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. The government have stated the probe into their actions is ongoing and the true reason for their visit is as yet uncertain.

“It is just unfortunate that real concerns are co-opted by radicalism. Sadly, the story of extreme conflict was unfairly glued to Mindanao’s image,” noted Karlos Manlupig, head of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Policing Legacy

Lorenzo is additionally confident that no one could perpetrate another terrorist strike in the city historically governed by the political machine of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both famous and notorious – was established by tightly securing Davao through tough law and order and anti-drug initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand inspecting bags.

The authorities has denied suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of unrest and disenfranchisement that has seen some Muslim separatist groups forge ties with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, authorities say they are small and weakened.

Police Trace Whereabouts

What is certain, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two never left the city nor underwent combat training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Law enforcement have said they are “not taking lightly” the duo's presence in the country as they map out the activities of the suspects during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are many establishments the two could have visited or connected with associates in the area. Many of businesses sit between the GV Hotel and a close by Jollibee, where they were understood to buy their food.

Officers are reviewing security camera video and following transport records to reconstruct their movements, and that all possibilities are being explored.

Fears in Marawi Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, residents are worried that new terrorist labels could lead to tighter restrictions and worsen bias against Muslims.

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

“[The Akrams’] time here should be thoroughly examined and the intelligence should provide transparent and factual answers without turning uncertainty into finger-pointing against Mindanao or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig commended 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 tackle socioeconomic factors and governance challenges that drive the motivations behind the conflict while “continue pushing for understanding and steer clear of prejudice and sectarianism”.