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This was the scariest time of his existence. Back in September 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five meters away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The ISIS assault killed 15, among them his wife's brother. A prolonged siege between the army and the militant group in Marawi City ensued.

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

Nearly a decade later, the threat of IS reappears over one of the nation's major cities, amid global attention over the month-long stay in the city of the alleged Bondi beach shooters, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who works as a massage technician at the night market, saw news of the attack on the television, but like other locals spoken to, felt predominantly detached.

The 2016 bombing is a traumatic event he is trying to move on from. A monument for the 2016 deaths stands in a section of the night market, appearing out of place amid the celebratory atmosphere as hundreds flocked there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Active Probes Amid Holiday Preparations

Investigations into the Philippines activities of the father and son coincides with the mostly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been adorned with a large Christmas tree, malls are packed, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“I was surprised to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for tourism, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have made clear the probe into their activities is continuing and the precise reason for their stay is still uncertain.

“It is a shame that legitimate grievances are exploited by terrorism. Unfortunately, the narrative of savage attacks was wrongly attached to the region's character,” stated Karlos Manlupig, executive director of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Safety History

Lorenzo is additionally assured that nobody could carry out another terror attack in the city long administered by the clan of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both notable and notorious – was established by aggressively securitising Davao through strict law and order and drug war policies. At an entrance of the night market, at least four officers stand inspecting bags.

The national government has denied suggestions that it was a hub for extremists for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of unrest and disenfranchisement that has seen some Muslim separatist groups form alliances with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups persist, authorities say they are limited in size and diminished.

Authorities Reconstruct Movements

What is certain, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two stayed within the city nor received weapons 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 reconstruct the actions of the pair during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous establishments the two could have frequented or had meetings in the area. Dozens of outlets sit between the GV Hotel and a nearby Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their food.

Police are analyzing CCTV footage and following taxi trips to piece together their movements, and that all possibilities are being considered.

Concerns in Marawi Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, inhabitants are worried that fresh terrorist labels could lead to heightened securitisation and worsen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must determine what happened.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be carefully probed and the information should provide clear and truthful answers without transforming doubt into accusations against its people or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig commended local initiatives in enhancing the peace and order in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that terrorism simply disappeared”. He said the country must tackle economic and social issues and governance challenges that motivate the impulses behind the conflict while “continue pushing for acceptance and avoid prejudice and polarization”.