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That was the most frightening moment of his life. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five metres away from a detonation at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The Islamic State attack killed 15, including his wife's brother. A lengthy battle between the military and the militant group in Marawi City followed.

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

Nearly a decade later, the specter of IS once more hangs over one of the country's largest cities, amidst international scrutiny over the four-week stay in the city of the suspected Bondi beach shooters, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who makes a living as a massage technician at the night market, saw news of the attack on the news, but like other residents surveyed, felt predominantly detached.

Even the 2016 blast is a bad memory he is attempting to put behind him. A remembrance marker for the 2016 deaths is placed in a corner of the night market, appearing incongruous against the celebratory environment as hundreds came there for food, massages and trinkets.

Active Probes Amid Holiday Cheer

Investigations into the Philippines activities of the father and son coincides with the overwhelmingly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been decorated with a tall 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 tourism, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Officials have emphasized the inquiry into their activities is active and the exact reason for their stay is as yet unclear.

“It is just a shame that real concerns are exploited by extremism. Sadly, the story of brutal violence was unfairly glued to the island's image,” stated Karlos Manlupig, leader of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Security Legacy

Lorenzo is furthermore certain that nobody could carry out another terrorist strike in the city for a long time administered by the family of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both renowned and infamous – was forged through heavily policing Davao through hardline law and order and anti-drug initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand inspecting bags.

The authorities has rejected claims that it was a base for militant training for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of unrest and marginalization that has seen some Muslim separatist groups form alliances with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, authorities say they are limited in size and degraded.

Authorities Trace Whereabouts

What is clear, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two did not leave the city nor underwent combat training in the country, as was previously alleged.

Police have said they are “treating with gravity” the father and son's presence in the country as they piece together the actions of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Police say there are several establishments the two could have gone to or met contacts in the neighborhood. Many of establishments sit between the their accommodation and a nearby Jollibee, where they were reported to buy their food.

Police are examining surveillance tapes and following transport records to piece together their movements, and that every scenario are being entertained.

Worries in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, inhabitants are worried that fresh associations with terrorism could lead to increased security measures and increase prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must find out what happened.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be properly investigated and the information should provide accurate and honest answers without converting questions into finger-pointing against the region or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig lauded community efforts in improving the peace and order in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism magically vanished”. He said the country must confront root causes and governance challenges that fuel the reasons behind the violence while “persist in promoting tolerance and avoid bias and sectarianism”.