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That was the scariest experience of his existence. Back in the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a detonation at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The Islamic State strike left 15 dead, among them his wife's brother. A prolonged conflict between the armed forces and the extremist group in Marawi followed.

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

Nearly a decade later, the specter of IS reappears over one of the Philippines’ major cities, during global attention over the month-long stay in the city of the accused Bondi beach shooters, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, heard about Bondi on the media, but similar to other citizens interviewed, felt largely disconnected.

Even the 2016 bombing is a painful recollection he is attempting to put behind him. A remembrance marker for the 2016 deaths is placed in a part of the night market, appearing out of place amid the celebratory atmosphere as hundreds flocked there for meals, massages and goods.

Active Probes Amid Christmas Celebrations

Examinations of the Philippines activities of the father and son is happening while the mostly Catholic nation is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a large Christmas tree, shopping centers are packed, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“I was surprised to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for tourism, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Officials have emphasized the inquiry into their activities is ongoing and the exact reason for their visit is still unknown.

“It is simply a shame that valid issues are exploited by extremism. Regrettably, the narrative of brutal violence was wrongly attached to the island's image,” stated Karlos Manlupig, head of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Policing History

Lorenzo is furthermore confident that no one could perpetrate another terror attack in the city for a long time administered by the political machine of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both renowned and infamous – was built on tightly securing Davao through hardline law and order and anti-drug policies. At an entrance of the night market, at least four guards stand inspecting bags.

The authorities has pushed back against claims that it was a base for militant training for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of instability and disenfranchisement that has seen some Islamic independence movements forge ties with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups remain present, authorities say they are limited in size and degraded.

Police Reconstruct Whereabouts

What is evident, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two did not leave the city nor obtained weapons training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Investigators have said they are “taking seriously” the father and son's visit in the country as they reconstruct the activities of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Police say there are several locations the two could have visited or met contacts in the area. Scores of outlets sit between the hotel where they stayed and a nearby popular fast food chain, where they were understood to buy their meals.

Officers are examining surveillance tapes and tracing taxi trips to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that all possibilities are being explored.

Worries in the Region Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with extremist groups in 2017, residents are concerned that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to heightened securitisation and increase discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must find out what happened.

“[The Akrams’] time here should be carefully probed and the intelligence should provide clear and truthful answers without turning uncertainty into accusations against the region or its people,” he said.

Manlupig lauded community efforts in improving the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must tackle economic and social issues and political factors that motivate the impulses behind the conflict while “continue pushing for tolerance and avoid bias and division”.