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It was the scariest time of his existence. During September 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a detonation at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The IS attack left 15 dead, including his wife's brother. A five-month battle between the army and the jihadist group in the city of Marawi came after.

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

Nearly a decade later, the threat of IS reappears over one of the country's key cities, during international scrutiny over the month-long stay in the city of the alleged Bondi beach shooters, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who works as a massage technician at the night market, learned of the attack on the news, but similar to other locals interviewed, felt predominantly removed.

The 2016 blast is a painful recollection he is working to forget. A remembrance marker for the 2016 fatalities sits in a corner of the night market, seeming out of place amidst the joyful environment as many people came there for food, massages and goods.

Ongoing Investigations Amid Holiday Celebrations

Examinations of the Philippines activities of the pair comes as the overwhelmingly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been adorned with a tall Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children go door-to-door to sing carols.

“I was surprised to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for sightseeing, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Officials have stated the inquiry into their activities is ongoing and the exact reason for their stay is as yet unknown.

“It is just regrettable that legitimate grievances are hijacked by extremism. Regrettably, the story of extreme conflict was wrongly attached to the island's identity,” noted Karlos Manlupig, executive director of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Safety Record

Lorenzo is also assured that nobody could carry out another act of terror in the city for a long time governed by the family of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both notable and notorious – was built on heavily policing Davao through hardline anti-crime and drug war campaigns. At an entrance of the night market, at least four officers stand searching bags.

The Philippine government has rejected claims that it was a terrorist training ground for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of unrest and marginalisation that has seen some Muslim separatist groups forge ties with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups remain present, security officials say they are limited in size and degraded.

Investigators Trace Activities

What is evident, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor received weapons training in the country, as was earlier claimed.

Police have said they are “treating with gravity” the duo's presence in the country as they piece together the actions of the suspects during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Investigators say there are numerous locations the two could have visited or connected with associates in the area. Many of outlets sit between the GV Hotel and a close by restaurant, where they were understood to buy their meals.

Detectives are examining CCTV footage and tracing cab rides to reconstruct their movements, and that every scenario are being entertained.

Worries in Marawi City Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with IS-linked militants in 2017, residents are worried that fresh terrorist labels could lead to heightened securitisation and deepen discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must determine what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be carefully probed and the intel should provide transparent and factual answers without converting questions into accusations against the region or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig praised community efforts in improving the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that radicalism was eradicated”. He said the country must confront economic and social issues and governance challenges that fuel the motivations behind the unrest while “continue pushing for understanding and prevent prejudice and division”.