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This was the most frightening experience of his existence. Back in 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five meters away from a detonation at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The ISIS assault claimed 15 lives, among them his brother-in-law. A prolonged conflict between the military and the militant group in Marawi came after.

“It will not occur again in Davao,” Pendon says.

Nine years later, the specter of IS again looms over one of the nation's major cities, amidst global attention over the month-long stay in the city of the suspected Bondi beach shooters, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, heard about Bondi on the news, but as with other citizens interviewed, felt predominantly removed.

Even the 2016 attack is a traumatic event he is attempting to put behind him. A remembrance marker for the 2016 fatalities stands in a part of the night market, appearing mismatched against the festive environment as hundreds came there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Current Inquiries Amid Festive Preparations

Examinations of the time in the Philippines of the duo is happening while the mostly Catholic nation is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been adorned with a tall Christmas tree, malls are packed, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“I was taken aback to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for travel, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have stated the probe into their whereabouts is active and the exact reason for their stay is still unknown.

“It is simply regrettable that valid issues are exploited by extremism. Regrettably, the story of brutal violence was unfairly glued to Mindanao’s character,” said Karlos Manlupig, head of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Safety History

Lorenzo is also confident that no one could perpetrate another act of terror in the city for a long time administered by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both notable and controversial – was built on aggressively securitising Davao through strict law and order and drug war policies. At one entrance of the night market, at least four officers stand inspecting bags.

The national government has pushed back against claims that it was a base for militant training for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of instability and marginalization that has seen some Muslim separatist groups forge ties with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups still exist, authorities say they are small and degraded.

Police Reconstruct Activities

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

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

Authorities say there are several places the two could have gone to or connected with associates in the neighborhood. Scores of outlets sit between the GV Hotel and a close by popular fast food chain, where they were reported to buy their food.

Officers are examining CCTV footage and tracing transport records to piece together their itinerary, and that every scenario are being explored.

Fears in Marawi City Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with IS-linked militants in 2017, residents are worried that renewed associations with terrorism could lead to heightened securitisation and deepen bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must establish what took place.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be carefully probed and the intelligence should provide transparent and factual answers without converting questions into finger-pointing against Mindanao or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig lauded local initiatives in improving the peace and order in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism simply disappeared”. He said the country must address socioeconomic factors and governance challenges that drive the motivations behind the unrest while “continue pushing for acceptance and steer clear of prejudice and polarization”.