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This was the scariest time of his life. In 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a blast at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The ISIS assault left 15 dead, including his brother-in-law. A five-month siege between the military and the extremist group in the city of Marawi followed.

“It will not happen again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Years later, the threat of IS once more hangs over one of the nation's key cities, amidst global attention over the four-week stay in the city of the alleged 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 television, but like other residents spoken to, felt mostly detached.

The 2016 blast is a bad memory he is trying to move on from. A memorial for the 2016 fatalities stands in a corner of the night market, seeming out of place amid the festive atmosphere as hundreds came there for meals, massages and souvenirs.

Ongoing Probes Amid Holiday Preparations

Examinations of the visit to the country of the pair coincides with the predominantly Catholic nation is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been adorned with 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 sightseeing, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have stated the probe into their activities is active and the true reason for their trip is as yet unclear.

“It is just unfortunate that valid issues are co-opted by extremism. Regrettably, the narrative of brutal violence was unfairly glued to the region's identity,” noted Karlos Manlupig, head of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Security History

Lorenzo is also confident that nobody could execute another act of terror in the city long administered by the clan of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both famous and controversial – was established by tightly securing Davao through tough law and order and drug war initiatives. At one entrance of the night market, at least four personnel stand searching bags.

The authorities has denied suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of conflict and marginalisation that has seen some Muslim separatist groups form alliances with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups still exist, authorities say they are small and degraded.

Authorities Piece Together Movements

What is clear, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two never left the city nor received military-style training in the country, as was earlier claimed.

Law enforcement have said they are “not taking lightly” the father and son's presence in the country as they map out the movements of the suspects during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous places the two could have visited or had meetings in the vicinity. Scores of establishments sit between the hotel where they stayed and a nearby Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their meals.

Officers are analyzing security camera video and tracing cab rides to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that every scenario are being entertained.

Fears in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with extremist groups in 2017, inhabitants are worried that fresh associations with terrorism could lead to tighter restrictions and worsen discrimination against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must determine what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be thoroughly examined and the information should provide clear and truthful answers without transforming doubt into finger-pointing against Mindanao or its people,” he said.

Manlupig commended local initiatives in improving the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “it is not true that radicalism was eradicated”. He said the country must confront root causes and governance challenges that drive the motivations behind the violence while “continue pushing for understanding and avoid prejudice and division”.