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This was the most frightening experience of his life. In 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five meters away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The IS attack left 15 dead, among them his brother-in-law. A lengthy conflict between the armed forces and the militant group in the city of Marawi came after.

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

Nine years later, the threat of IS reappears over one of the country's major cities, amid global attention over the four-week stay in the city of the suspected Bondi suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, heard about Bondi on the media, but as with other citizens spoken to, felt mostly detached.

The 2016 blast is a bad memory he is working to forget. A memorial for the 2016 deaths sits in a section of the night market, appearing out of place amid the celebratory atmosphere as many people gathered there for meals, massages and trinkets.

Ongoing Probes Amid Holiday Celebrations

Probes regarding the Philippines activities of the pair comes as the mostly Catholic nation is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a tall Christmas tree, shopping centers are packed, and children go door-to-door to sing carols.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for tourism, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have made clear the investigation into their actions is active and the true reason for their visit is as yet unclear.

“It is a shame that valid issues are exploited by extremism. Regrettably, the story of brutal violence was unfairly glued to the region's identity,” said Karlos Manlupig, head of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Safety Legacy

Lorenzo is also assured that no one could perpetrate another terrorist strike in the city long administered by the political machine of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both famous and controversial – was forged through tightly securing Davao through tough anti-crime and anti-drug initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand checking bags.

The national government has pushed back against suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of instability and marginalisation that has seen some local militant factions establish links with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups remain present, security officials say they are small and diminished.

Police Reconstruct Movements

What is certain, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two never left the city nor obtained weapons training in the country, as was previously alleged.

Police have said they are “not taking lightly” the duo's presence in the country as they reconstruct the actions of the suspects during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous locations the two could have visited or had meetings in the neighborhood. Dozens of establishments sit between the their accommodation and a local restaurant, where they were known to buy their meals.

Police are reviewing security camera video and tracing taxi trips to reconstruct their movements, and that all possibilities are being considered.

Fears in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with IS-linked militants in 2017, residents are anxious that renewed associations with terrorism could lead to increased security measures and deepen discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a faculty member at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must determine what transpired.

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

Manlupig praised civic actions in enhancing the peace and order in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must address socioeconomic factors and political factors that fuel the motivations behind the unrest while “keep advocating for tolerance and steer clear of discrimination and sectarianism”.