🔗 Share this article

This was the scariest time of his existence. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five metres away from a blast at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The IS attack killed 15, including his wife's brother. A five-month battle between the military and the extremist group in the city of Marawi ensued.

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

Years later, the shadow of IS again looms over one of the nation's largest cities, amid international scrutiny over the month-long stay in the city of the suspected Bondi suspects, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who makes a living as a masseur at the night market, saw news of Bondi on the news, but similar to other locals surveyed, felt largely disconnected.

The 2016 blast is a bad memory he is working to forget. A memorial for the 2016 fatalities is placed in a section of the night market, appearing incongruous amidst the festive mood as hundreds came there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Current Inquiries Amid Holiday Preparations

Examinations of the Philippines activities of the duo comes as the overwhelmingly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s municipal hall has been decorated with a towering Christmas tree, shopping centers are packed, 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 travel, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Officials have stated the probe into their activities is active and the true reason for their stay is still unknown.

“It is just regrettable that real concerns are hijacked by terrorism. Sadly, the narrative of brutal violence was incorrectly tied to the island's image,” stated Karlos Manlupig, executive director of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Safety History

Lorenzo is also confident that no one could carry out another terror attack in the city long administered by the family of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both renowned and infamous – was built on heavily policing Davao through hardline law and order and drug war policies. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand searching bags.

The authorities has denied allegations that it was a base for militant training for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of instability and marginalisation that has seen some Muslim separatist groups form alliances with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups remain present, authorities say they are small and diminished.

Police Reconstruct Whereabouts

What is evident, stated Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two did not leave the city nor received military-style training in the country, as was previously alleged.

Police have said they are “not taking lightly” the duo's presence in the country as they map out the movements of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous locations the two could have frequented or met contacts in the neighborhood. Scores of businesses sit between the GV Hotel and a local Jollibee, where they were understood to buy their food.

Police are reviewing security camera video and tracking taxi trips to reconstruct their movements, and that every scenario are being considered.

Concerns in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with extremist groups in 2017, residents are anxious that renewed terrorist labels could lead to heightened securitisation and increase prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a academic at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must establish what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be properly investigated and the intelligence should provide transparent and factual answers without turning uncertainty into finger-pointing against the region or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig praised community efforts in enhancing the security situation in Davao City but he said “that does not imply that radicalism simply disappeared”. He said the country must confront root causes and governance challenges that motivate the reasons behind the unrest while “continue pushing for acceptance and prevent bias and polarization”.