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That was the scariest moment of his life. During September 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a detonation at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The Islamic State strike killed 15, among them his wife's brother. A five-month conflict between the military and the militant group in Marawi came after.

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

Nearly a decade later, the specter of IS again looms over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, during international scrutiny over the four-week stay in the city of the suspected Bondi beach shooters, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who works as a masseur at the night market, learned of the Bondi incident on the news, but similar to other residents spoken to, felt mostly disconnected.

The 2016 attack is a bad memory he is attempting to put behind him. A monument for the 2016 victims is placed in a section of the night market, appearing mismatched amid the festive mood as many people gathered there for food, massages and goods.

Active Inquiries Amid Festive Cheer

Probes regarding the time in the Philippines of the duo is happening while the mostly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been decorated with a towering Christmas tree, shopping centers are busy, and children go door-to-door to sing carols.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for sightseeing, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Officials have made clear the inquiry into their whereabouts is ongoing and the precise reason for their visit is remains unknown.

“It is simply a shame that legitimate grievances are co-opted by extremism. Regrettably, the story of savage attacks was incorrectly tied to the region's identity,” noted Karlos Manlupig, leader of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Policing Record

Lorenzo is additionally assured that no one could execute another act of terror in the city for a long time administered by the clan of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both renowned and notorious – was forged through tightly securing Davao through tough anti-crime and drug war policies. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand checking bags.

The Philippine government has rejected suggestions that it was a hub for extremists for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of unrest and disenfranchisement that has seen some Muslim separatist groups form alliances with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups persist, experts say they are small and weakened.

Police Reconstruct Whereabouts

What is clear, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor received combat training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Police have said they are “treating with gravity” the father and son's visit in the country as they reconstruct the activities of the suspects during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Investigators say there are many places the two could have gone to or met contacts in the area. Dozens of businesses sit between the their accommodation and a local restaurant, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Detectives are reviewing security camera video and tracking taxi trips to piece together their movements, and that every scenario are being entertained.

Concerns in the Region Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with extremist groups in 2017, inhabitants are anxious that fresh associations with terrorism could lead to increased security measures and deepen discrimination against Muslims.

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

“[The Akrams’] time here should be thoroughly examined and the intelligence should provide accurate and honest answers without turning uncertainty into accusations against Mindanao or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig commended community efforts in strengthening the security situation in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that radicalism was eradicated”. He said the country must address economic and social issues and political factors that fuel the reasons behind the unrest while “keep advocating for tolerance and steer clear of discrimination and division”.