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It was the most frightening experience of his life. Back in September 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five metres away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The ISIS assault claimed 15 lives, including his brother-in-law. A five-month siege between the military and the jihadist group in the city of Marawi came after.

“It cannot happen again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Nine years later, the threat of IS again looms over one of the Philippines’ major cities, amid worldwide focus over the month-long stay in the city of the alleged Bondi attackers, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, heard about Bondi on the news, but similar to other locals surveyed, felt predominantly removed.

The 2016 bombing is a traumatic event he is trying to move on from. A memorial for the 2016 deaths stands in a part of the night market, looking mismatched amid the joyful atmosphere as many people came there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Ongoing Probes Amid Festive Celebrations

Investigations into the time in the Philippines of the pair coincides with the overwhelmingly Catholic nation is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been decorated with a large Christmas tree, shopping centers are busy, 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 extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have emphasized the probe into their activities is ongoing and the true reason for their stay is still unknown.

“It is simply unfortunate that valid issues are exploited by terrorism. Unfortunately, the story of savage attacks was wrongly attached to Mindanao’s character,” noted Karlos Manlupig, executive director of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Policing Legacy

Lorenzo is additionally confident that no one could execute another terror attack in the city for a long time ruled by the family of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both notable and controversial – was built on heavily policing Davao through tough anti-crime and anti-drug policies. At an entrance of the night market, at least four personnel stand checking bags.

The Philippine government has pushed back against claims that it was a terrorist training ground for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of unrest and disenfranchisement that has seen some Muslim separatist groups forge ties with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, security officials say they are limited in size and degraded.

Authorities Reconstruct Activities

What is certain, stated 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 pair’s visit in the country as they reconstruct the actions of the suspects during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are several locations the two could have visited or had meetings in the neighborhood. Dozens of businesses sit between the GV Hotel and a close by Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their meals.

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

Worries in Marawi Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with IS-linked militants in 2017, locals are worried that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to increased security measures and increase bias against Muslims.

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

“[The Akrams’] time here should be thoroughly examined and the intelligence should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into accusations against its people or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig lauded local initiatives in strengthening the peace and order in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that terrorism magically vanished”. He said the country must tackle economic and social issues and governance challenges that fuel the motivations behind the unrest while “keep advocating for tolerance and steer clear of bias and division”.