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This was the most terrifying experience of his existence. During the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five metres away from a detonation at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The ISIS strike left 15 dead, including his wife's brother. A prolonged conflict between the armed forces and the extremist group in the city of Marawi came after.

“It will not occur again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Years later, the specter of IS reappears over one of the Philippines’ key cities, amid international scrutiny over the 28-day stay in the city of the alleged Bondi beach shooters, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who makes a living as a massage technician at the night market, saw news of the Bondi incident on the news, but similar to other locals surveyed, felt mostly disconnected.

Even the 2016 bombing is a traumatic event he is working to forget. A monument for the 2016 victims sits in a section of the night market, appearing mismatched against the festive environment as hundreds gathered there for meals, massages and trinkets.

Active Probes Amid Christmas Celebrations

Examinations of the visit to the country of the father and son comes as the predominantly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been lit up by a large Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for tourism, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Officials have emphasized the inquiry into their whereabouts is active and the true reason for their trip is still unclear.

“It is just unfortunate that real concerns are exploited by terrorism. Sadly, the reputation of extreme conflict was wrongly attached to the region's identity,” noted Karlos Manlupig, leader of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Policing History

Lorenzo is also confident that no one could carry out another terror attack in the city for a long time administered by the political machine of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both renowned and controversial – was established by heavily policing Davao through tough law and order and anti-drug campaigns. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand searching bags.

The Philippine government has denied suggestions that it was a base for militant training for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of instability and disenfranchisement that has seen some Muslim separatist groups forge ties with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups remain present, security officials say they are limited in size and weakened.

Police Reconstruct Movements

What is clear, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor obtained military-style training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Law enforcement have said they are “taking seriously” the duo's stay in the country as they map out the activities of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are several establishments the two could have gone to or had meetings in the neighborhood. Scores of businesses sit between the GV Hotel and a nearby restaurant, where they were understood to buy their meals.

Police are analyzing CCTV footage and following taxi trips to reconstruct their movements, and that all possibilities are being considered.

Concerns in the Region Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with extremist groups in 2017, inhabitants are worried that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to tighter restrictions and increase prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must determine what happened.

“[The Akrams’] time here should be carefully probed and the information should provide clear and truthful answers without turning uncertainty into blame against the region or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig praised local initiatives in enhancing the security situation in Davao City but he said “it is not true that terrorism magically vanished”. He said the country must address socioeconomic factors and political factors that motivate the impulses behind the violence while “persist in promoting acceptance and avoid discrimination and division”.