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It was the most frightening time of his life. Back in 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five metres away from a blast at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The Islamic State strike claimed 15 lives, including his wife's brother. A five-month battle between the military and the extremist group in Marawi City followed.

“It cannot occur again in Davao,” Pendon asserts.

Nine years later, the threat of IS again looms over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, amid worldwide focus over the 28-day stay in the city of the suspected Bondi beach shooters, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who makes a living as a massage technician at the night market, learned of the attack on the news, but as with other residents surveyed, felt mostly detached.

The 2016 attack is a bad memory he is trying to move on from. A memorial for the 2016 deaths sits in a corner of the night market, looking incongruous amidst the festive atmosphere as crowds came there for meals, massages and souvenirs.

Ongoing Probes Amid Christmas Celebrations

Examinations of the visit to the country of the duo comes as the mostly Catholic nation is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been lit up by a large Christmas tree, malls are crowded, and children knock on doors 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 stated the inquiry into their activities is ongoing and the true reason for their stay is remains unclear.

“It is a shame that valid issues are exploited by extremism. Unfortunately, the narrative of savage attacks was unfairly glued to the region's identity,” said Karlos Manlupig, executive director of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Policing History

Lorenzo is furthermore certain that no one could carry out another terror attack in the city long governed by the political machine of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both renowned and infamous – was established by aggressively securitising Davao through tough anti-crime and anti-drug campaigns. At an entrance of the night market, at least four guards stand searching bags.

The authorities 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 conflict and disenfranchisement that has seen some Islamic independence movements forge ties with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups persist, authorities say they are limited in size and weakened.

Authorities Trace Whereabouts

What is evident, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor underwent combat training in the country, as was previously alleged.

Investigators have said they are “taking seriously” the father and son's visit in the country as they piece together the movements of the father and son during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous places the two could have visited or had meetings in the area. Many of outlets sit between the their accommodation and a nearby restaurant, where they were known to buy their food.

Police are examining surveillance tapes and tracing cab rides to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that any potential lead are being considered.

Worries in Marawi Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, inhabitants are concerned that renewed terrorist labels could lead to heightened securitisation and worsen bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must determine what took place.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be carefully probed and the intel should provide accurate and honest answers without transforming doubt into accusations against Mindanao or its people,” Abdullah 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 address socioeconomic factors and political factors that drive the reasons behind the violence while “persist in promoting understanding and avoid discrimination and sectarianism”.