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It was the scariest experience of his existence. During the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five metres away from a detonation at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The Islamic State strike left 15 dead, including his wife's brother. A five-month conflict between the armed forces and the jihadist group in the city of Marawi came after.

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

Nine years later, the threat of IS again looms over one of the nation's largest cities, amid international scrutiny over the month-long stay in the city of the suspected Bondi suspects, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who is a a masseur at the night market, saw news of Bondi on the media, but like other locals interviewed, felt largely removed.

Even the 2016 blast is a painful recollection he is working to forget. A monument for the 2016 victims stands in a corner of the night market, seeming incongruous against the festive atmosphere as many people gathered there for meals, massages and souvenirs.

Ongoing Investigations Amid Festive Preparations

Probes regarding the Philippines activities of the pair comes as the overwhelmingly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been adorned with a tall Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for travel, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have made clear the probe into their activities is active and the true reason for their trip is remains unknown.

“It is unfortunate that valid issues are co-opted by terrorism. Sadly, the story of savage attacks was wrongly attached to the island's character,” noted Karlos Manlupig, executive director of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Policing History

Lorenzo is additionally assured that nobody could execute another terrorist strike in the city long governed by the clan of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both famous and notorious – was established by tightly securing Davao through tough law and order and drug war policies. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand inspecting bags.

The national government has rejected suggestions that it was a hub for extremists for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of unrest and marginalisation that has seen some Muslim separatist groups forge ties with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups still exist, security officials say they are small and diminished.

Police Reconstruct Movements

What is evident, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two never left the city nor obtained military-style training in the country, as was previously alleged.

Investigators have said they are “not taking lightly” the duo's presence in the country as they reconstruct the actions of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous establishments the two could have gone to or had meetings in the area. Many of outlets sit between the GV Hotel and a close by Jollibee, where they were known to buy their meals.

Detectives are examining surveillance tapes and tracking taxi trips to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that all possibilities are being entertained.

Concerns in Marawi City Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with IS-linked militants in 2017, inhabitants are worried that fresh associations with terrorism could lead to increased security measures and increase prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must establish what happened.

“[The Akrams’] time here should be properly investigated and the information should provide accurate and honest answers without converting questions into blame against the region or its people,” he said.

Manlupig commended community efforts in enhancing the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “it is not true that radicalism magically vanished”. He said the country must tackle economic and social issues and political factors that fuel the motivations behind the unrest while “continue pushing for understanding and avoid bias and sectarianism”.