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This was the scariest moment of his life. During the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five metres away from a detonation at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The ISIS assault left 15 dead, among them his wife's brother. A lengthy conflict between the army and the jihadist group in Marawi City came after.

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

Nine years later, the shadow of IS reappears over one of the nation's largest cities, amidst international scrutiny over the month-long stay in the city of the accused Bondi suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who is a a massage technician at the night market, learned of the Bondi incident on the television, but similar to other residents surveyed, felt mostly disconnected.

Even the 2016 bombing is a traumatic event he is trying to move on from. A remembrance marker for the 2016 victims sits in a corner of the night market, looking mismatched against the joyful environment as many people flocked there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Current Probes Amid Christmas Celebrations

Probes regarding the time in the Philippines of the duo comes as the predominantly Catholic nation is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a large Christmas tree, shopping centers are busy, and children knock on doors to sing carols.

“It surprised me to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for sightseeing, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. The government have stated the probe into their actions is active and the precise reason for their trip is as yet uncertain.

“It is just a shame that real concerns are exploited by extremism. Unfortunately, the reputation of savage attacks was incorrectly tied to the island's character,” said Karlos Manlupig, head of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Security Record

Lorenzo is additionally confident that nobody could carry out another terrorist strike in the city long administered by the political machine of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both famous and infamous – was forged through aggressively securitising Davao through strict law and order and anti-drug campaigns. At an entrance of the night market, at least four guards stand inspecting bags.

The national government has pushed back against claims that it was a base for militant training for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of unrest and marginalization that has seen some local militant factions form alliances with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups still exist, experts say they are limited in size and diminished.

Authorities Trace Whereabouts

What is certain, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two stayed within the city nor obtained weapons training in the country, as was previously alleged.

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

Investigators say there are numerous places the two could have gone to or had meetings in the vicinity. Dozens of establishments sit between the GV Hotel and a close by popular fast food chain, where they were known to buy their meals.

Officers are reviewing surveillance tapes and tracking cab rides to piece together their whereabouts, and that every scenario are being explored.

Concerns in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with extremist groups in 2017, residents are concerned that fresh terrorist labels could lead to increased security measures and worsen bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must find out what took place.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be thoroughly examined and the intel should provide accurate and honest answers without turning uncertainty into accusations against the region or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig praised local initiatives in improving the peace and order in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must address socioeconomic factors and governance challenges that drive the motivations behind the conflict while “keep advocating for tolerance and avoid discrimination and sectarianism”.