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This was the most frightening moment of his life. During September 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The Islamic State attack left 15 dead, among them his wife's brother. A five-month siege between the armed forces and the extremist group in the city of Marawi ensued.

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

Years later, the threat of IS once more hangs over one of the nation's largest cities, amid international scrutiny over the four-week stay in the city of the accused Bondi suspects, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who is a a masseur at the night market, heard about the Bondi incident on the news, but like other locals surveyed, felt largely removed.

Even the 2016 bombing is a bad memory he is trying to move on from. A memorial for the 2016 deaths is placed in a part of the night market, appearing mismatched amid the celebratory environment as crowds came there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Ongoing Inquiries Amid Christmas Celebrations

Investigations into the visit to the country of the father and son is happening while the predominantly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a towering Christmas tree, malls are crowded, and children go door-to-door to perform Christmas songs.

“It surprised me 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 stated the probe into their whereabouts is continuing and the precise reason for their trip is still unknown.

“It is simply unfortunate that real concerns are hijacked by extremism. Regrettably, the reputation of savage attacks was incorrectly tied to the island's character,” noted Karlos Manlupig, head of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Security Legacy

Lorenzo is additionally confident that nobody could carry out another act of terror in the city long administered by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both renowned and notorious – was built on heavily policing Davao through hardline law and order and drug war campaigns. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand searching bags.

The Philippine government has denied suggestions that it was a hub for extremists for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of conflict and marginalisation that has seen some local militant factions forge ties with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups persist, experts say they are small and diminished.

Authorities Piece Together Movements

What is certain, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two did not leave the city nor obtained military-style training in the country, as was previously alleged.

Law enforcement have said they are “not taking lightly” the pair’s visit in the country as they piece together the activities of the pair during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous places the two could have frequented or connected with associates in the vicinity. Scores of establishments sit between the their accommodation and a local popular fast food chain, where they were known to buy their food.

Police are reviewing surveillance tapes and tracking cab rides to reconstruct their whereabouts, and that every scenario are being explored.

Worries in Marawi Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, locals are worried that renewed accusations of extremism could lead to heightened securitisation and worsen prejudice against Muslims.

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

“[The Akrams’] time here should be carefully probed and the information should provide transparent and factual answers without turning uncertainty into finger-pointing against the region or its people,” he said.

Manlupig praised civic actions in improving the security situation in Davao City but he said “it is not true that terrorism simply disappeared”. He said the country must address root causes and political factors that fuel the reasons behind the unrest while “continue pushing for tolerance and avoid discrimination and division”.