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That was the scariest moment of his life. During the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five metres away from a detonation at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The ISIS assault claimed 15 lives, among them his wife's brother. A five-month siege between the armed forces and the jihadist group in Marawi City came after.

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

Nearly a decade later, the shadow of IS once more hangs over one of the Philippines’ major cities, amidst worldwide focus over the 28-day stay in the city of the accused Bondi beach shooters, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a masseur at the night market, learned of Bondi on the television, but like other locals spoken to, felt predominantly removed.

The 2016 blast is a traumatic event he is trying to move on from. A monument for the 2016 victims stands in a corner of the night market, looking incongruous amid the joyful mood as hundreds gathered there for meals, massages and souvenirs.

Active Probes Amid Christmas Preparations

Examinations of the Philippines activities of the father and son comes as the mostly Catholic nation is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been decorated with a towering Christmas tree, shopping centers are crowded, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“I was surprised 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 emphasized the probe into their activities is continuing and the precise reason for their trip is remains uncertain.

“It is just regrettable that real concerns are co-opted by extremism. Sadly, the reputation of brutal violence was unfairly glued to the island's identity,” noted Karlos Manlupig, leader of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Policing History

Lorenzo is furthermore confident that no one could carry out another terrorist strike in the city long administered by the political machine of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both notable and infamous – was established by aggressively securitising Davao through hardline anti-crime and anti-drug initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand checking bags.

The Philippine government has denied suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of conflict and marginalisation that has seen some Muslim separatist groups establish links with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups remain present, experts say they are limited in size and degraded.

Authorities Trace Movements

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

Police have said they are “treating with gravity” the father and son's stay in the country as they map out the actions of the pair during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are many establishments the two could have frequented or had meetings in the neighborhood. Many of businesses sit between the their accommodation and a close by Jollibee, where they were known to buy their meals.

Police are examining security camera video and following cab rides to establish their whereabouts, and that every scenario are being considered.

Concerns in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with extremist groups in 2017, inhabitants are worried that fresh associations with terrorism could lead to tighter restrictions and deepen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a faculty member at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must find out what happened.

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

Manlupig praised civic actions in enhancing the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism was eradicated”. He said the country must tackle socioeconomic factors and governance challenges that fuel the impulses behind the violence while “keep advocating for acceptance and prevent bias and polarization”.