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That was the most terrifying time of his existence. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a bomb explosion at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The IS strike left 15 dead, including his wife's brother. A lengthy conflict between the army and the militant group in the city of Marawi followed.

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

Nearly a decade later, the specter of IS reappears over one of the nation's key cities, during worldwide focus over the 28-day stay in the city of the accused Bondi attackers, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who works as a masseur at the night market, heard about Bondi on the television, but like other residents spoken to, felt mostly detached.

The 2016 blast is a bad memory he is working to forget. A monument for the 2016 victims is placed in a section of the night market, looking mismatched against the festive mood as many people gathered there for meals, massages and souvenirs.

Current Inquiries Amid Holiday Cheer

Investigations into the time in the Philippines of the pair is happening while the overwhelmingly Catholic country is preparing for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been lit up by a towering 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 travel, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. The government have made clear the investigation into their actions is ongoing and the exact reason for their stay is remains unclear.

“It is simply a shame that valid issues are co-opted by extremism. Regrettably, the story of extreme conflict was wrongly attached to Mindanao’s identity,” noted Karlos Manlupig, executive director of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Policing Legacy

Lorenzo is also confident that nobody could execute another terror attack in the city historically administered by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both renowned and notorious – was built on heavily policing Davao through strict law and order and drug war campaigns. At an entrance of the night market, at least four officers stand searching bags.

The national government has rejected allegations that it was a base for militant training for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of conflict and marginalization that has seen some Islamic independence movements form alliances with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups persist, security officials say they are small and weakened.

Investigators Piece Together Whereabouts

What is clear, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor received military-style training in the country, as was previously alleged.

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

Investigators say there are several locations the two could have gone to or met contacts in the vicinity. Many of establishments sit between the hotel where they stayed and a close by popular fast food chain, where they were reported to buy their food.

Police are reviewing surveillance tapes and following transport records to piece together their whereabouts, and that every scenario are being considered.

Concerns in Marawi City Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with IS-linked militants in 2017, residents are worried that fresh associations with terrorism could lead to tighter restrictions and deepen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must find out what happened.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be properly investigated and the intel should provide transparent and factual answers without turning uncertainty into accusations against Mindanao or its people,” he said.

Manlupig commended civic actions in improving the peace and order in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that radicalism was eradicated”. He said the country must confront economic and social issues and political factors that fuel the motivations behind the unrest while “continue pushing for acceptance and avoid bias and sectarianism”.