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That was the most terrifying moment of his existence. In 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five metres away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The ISIS strike left 15 dead, including his wife's brother. A five-month conflict between the army and the jihadist group in the city of Marawi followed.

“It cannot take place again in Davao,” Pendon says.

Years later, the shadow of IS reappears over one of the country's largest cities, amid international scrutiny over the four-week 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, saw news of the attack on the television, but similar to other residents interviewed, felt predominantly removed.

The 2016 bombing is a bad memory he is attempting to put behind him. A remembrance marker for the 2016 fatalities stands in a section of the night market, appearing out of place amidst the festive environment as many people came there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Active Inquiries Amid Christmas Celebrations

Investigations into the time in the Philippines of the pair comes as the predominantly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been adorned with a towering Christmas tree, shopping centers are crowded, 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 terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have emphasized the probe into their whereabouts is active and the exact reason for their stay is remains uncertain.

“It is a shame that real concerns are hijacked by radicalism. Unfortunately, the story of brutal violence was unfairly glued to the island's image,” stated Karlos Manlupig, executive director of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Policing History

Lorenzo is additionally confident that no one could perpetrate another terror attack in the city for a long time administered by the political machine of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both notable and controversial – was established by heavily policing Davao through tough anti-crime and anti-drug policies. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four officers stand checking bags.

The national government has denied claims that it was a base for militant training for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of conflict and marginalisation that has seen some local militant factions establish links with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups remain present, experts say they are limited in size and degraded.

Police Trace Activities

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

Law enforcement have said they are “treating with gravity” the father and son's stay in the country as they piece together the activities of the father and son during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are numerous locations the two could have frequented or met contacts in the vicinity. Scores of outlets sit between the hotel where they stayed and a nearby restaurant, where they were reported to buy their food.

Officers are reviewing surveillance tapes and tracing taxi trips to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that every scenario are being explored.

Concerns in Marawi City Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with IS-linked militants in 2017, inhabitants are concerned that renewed accusations of extremism could lead to tighter restrictions and deepen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must establish what happened.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be thoroughly examined and the information should provide transparent and factual answers without converting questions into finger-pointing against the region or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig praised civic actions in enhancing the peace and order in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism simply disappeared”. He said the country must tackle socioeconomic factors and political factors that drive the motivations behind the violence while “continue pushing for acceptance and prevent bias and division”.