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This was the scariest time of his existence. During September 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five metres away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The ISIS assault left 15 dead, among them his wife's brother. A five-month conflict between the armed forces and the extremist group in Marawi followed.

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

Years later, the shadow of IS again looms over one of the country's largest cities, during global attention over the month-long stay in the city of the alleged Bondi attackers, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who works as a massage technician at the night market, learned of Bondi on the news, but like other locals interviewed, felt predominantly detached.

The 2016 blast is a bad memory he is working to forget. A remembrance marker for the 2016 victims is placed in a part of the night market, looking out of place amid the festive environment as hundreds flocked there for meals, massages and souvenirs.

Active Probes Amid Holiday Cheer

Probes regarding the visit to the country of the duo comes as the predominantly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been adorned with a tall Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children go door-to-door to sing carols.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for sightseeing, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have made clear the probe into their activities is continuing and the true reason for their trip is as yet unknown.

“It is unfortunate that valid issues are hijacked by radicalism. Unfortunately, the story of brutal violence was unfairly glued to Mindanao’s character,” said Karlos Manlupig, head of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Policing History

Lorenzo is also certain that nobody could execute another terror attack in the city long ruled by the political machine of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both famous and notorious – was built on heavily policing Davao through hardline anti-crime and anti-drug initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand searching bags.

The authorities has denied allegations that it was a hub for extremists for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of conflict and disenfranchisement that has seen some Islamic independence movements form alliances with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups remain present, security officials say they are limited in size and degraded.

Authorities Reconstruct Whereabouts

What is certain, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two never left the city nor received weapons training in the country, as was earlier claimed.

Investigators have said they are “not taking lightly” the pair’s presence in the country as they map out the actions of the pair during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are several places the two could have visited or had meetings in the vicinity. Dozens of outlets sit between the hotel where they stayed and a nearby restaurant, where they were understood to buy their meals.

Detectives are analyzing security camera video and tracing cab rides to establish their whereabouts, and that all possibilities are being considered.

Concerns in Marawi Over Stigma

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

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

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

Manlupig praised community efforts in strengthening the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must confront socioeconomic factors and governance challenges that motivate the motivations behind the unrest while “persist in promoting understanding and steer clear of prejudice and polarization”.