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It was the most frightening time of his life. During September 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five meters away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The Islamic State assault left 15 dead, including his brother-in-law. A five-month siege between the military and the extremist group in Marawi followed.

“It won’t happen again in Davao,” Pendon says.

Nearly a decade later, the shadow of IS once more hangs over one of the country's major cities, amidst international scrutiny over the four-week stay in the city of the accused Bondi suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, learned of the Bondi incident on the media, but as with other citizens interviewed, felt largely removed.

Even the 2016 attack is a bad memory he is working to forget. A monument for the 2016 victims stands in a corner of the night market, seeming incongruous amid the joyful atmosphere as many people came there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Ongoing Inquiries Amid Holiday Cheer

Investigations into the visit to the country of the duo is happening while the overwhelmingly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been lit up by a tall Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children knock on doors to perform Christmas songs.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for travel, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. The government have emphasized the inquiry into their whereabouts is continuing and the true reason for their stay is remains unclear.

“It is regrettable that real concerns are hijacked by extremism. Unfortunately, the narrative of brutal violence was incorrectly tied to the region's identity,” noted Karlos Manlupig, executive director of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Policing Legacy

Lorenzo is furthermore certain that nobody could perpetrate another terrorist strike in the city for a long time administered by the political machine of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both notable and controversial – was established by tightly securing Davao through hardline anti-crime and drug war policies. At one entrance of the night market, at least four officers stand searching bags.

The authorities has rejected claims that it was a base for militant training for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of unrest and marginalization that has seen some Islamic independence movements forge ties with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups persist, experts say they are limited in size and weakened.

Investigators Trace Movements

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

Law enforcement have said they are “treating with gravity” the father and son's presence in the country as they map out the movements of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Police say there are several locations the two could have frequented or had meetings in the neighborhood. Many of businesses sit between the GV Hotel and a local popular fast food chain, where they were known to buy their food.

Police are analyzing surveillance tapes and tracing cab rides to piece together their whereabouts, and that all possibilities are being entertained.

Fears in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with extremist groups in 2017, locals are concerned that new associations with terrorism could lead to tighter restrictions and worsen bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must find out what took place.

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

Manlupig lauded community efforts in enhancing the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that terrorism was eradicated”. He said the country must confront root causes and governance challenges that drive the reasons behind the conflict while “continue pushing for tolerance and steer clear of discrimination and polarization”.