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This was the most terrifying time of his life. Back in September 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five metres away from a detonation at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The Islamic State assault killed 15, including his brother-in-law. A prolonged siege between the army and the jihadist group in Marawi City came after.

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

Nearly a decade later, the threat of IS reappears over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, amidst international scrutiny over the month-long stay in the city of the accused Bondi attackers, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a masseur at the night market, learned of the attack on the media, but as with other locals spoken to, felt mostly detached.

Even the 2016 blast is a painful recollection he is trying to move on from. A remembrance marker for the 2016 fatalities is placed in a part of the night market, seeming incongruous against the celebratory environment as hundreds flocked there for meals, massages and goods.

Active Investigations Amid Festive Cheer

Investigations into the time in the Philippines of the father and son comes as the predominantly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been decorated with a towering Christmas tree, shopping centers are crowded, 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 tourism, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. The government have stated the investigation into their whereabouts is active and the exact reason for their visit is as yet uncertain.

“It is a shame that real concerns are exploited by radicalism. Sadly, the story of brutal violence was unfairly glued to the island's image,” said Karlos Manlupig, executive director of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Safety History

Lorenzo is furthermore assured that nobody could execute another act of terror in the city historically administered by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both notable and notorious – was forged through aggressively securitising Davao through hardline law and order and anti-drug campaigns. At an entrance of the night market, at least four officers stand checking bags.

The Philippine government has denied allegations that it was a base for militant training for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of instability and marginalisation that has seen some Muslim separatist groups form alliances with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups still exist, authorities say they are limited in size and degraded.

Investigators Piece Together Movements

What is clear, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two never left the city nor received weapons training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Law enforcement have said they are “not taking lightly” the pair’s visit in the country as they piece together the actions of the father and son during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are many locations the two could have gone to or met contacts in the vicinity. Scores of establishments sit between the GV Hotel and a nearby popular fast food chain, where they were understood to buy their meals.

Officers are reviewing security camera video and tracking cab rides to piece together their whereabouts, and that every scenario are being explored.

Concerns in the Region Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with extremist groups in 2017, inhabitants are anxious that new terrorist labels could lead to tighter restrictions and deepen bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a faculty member at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must find out what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be carefully probed and the information should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into blame against its people or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig commended civic actions in strengthening the security situation in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that radicalism simply disappeared”. He said the country must confront root causes and governance challenges that fuel the motivations behind the conflict while “continue pushing for acceptance and prevent discrimination and polarization”.