🔗 Share this article

That was the most terrifying time of his existence. During the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five meters away from a bomb explosion at the night market in Roxas in Davao City. The Islamic State assault killed 15, among them his wife's brother. A five-month battle between the army and the militant group in Marawi came after.

“It won’t take place again in Davao,” Pendon states.

Nine years later, the specter of IS once more hangs over one of the nation's largest cities, amidst global attention over the 28-day stay in the city of the accused Bondi suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who is a a massage technician at the night market, learned of Bondi on the news, but similar to other citizens interviewed, felt mostly disconnected.

The 2016 bombing is a bad memory he is working to forget. A monument for the 2016 deaths sits in a section of the night market, seeming incongruous against the joyful atmosphere as many people came there for meals, massages and souvenirs.

Active Investigations Amid Festive Cheer

Examinations of the time in the Philippines of the pair coincides with the overwhelmingly Catholic country is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been lit up by a towering Christmas tree, malls are busy, and children go door-to-door to sing carols.

“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. The government have made clear the investigation into their activities is continuing and the exact reason for their stay is still uncertain.

“It is regrettable that valid issues are hijacked by extremism. Sadly, the story of savage attacks was wrongly attached to the island's character,” noted Karlos Manlupig, head of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Faith in Security Record

Lorenzo is additionally confident that no one could perpetrate another act of terror in the city for a long time governed by the family of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both famous and infamous – was established by tightly securing Davao through hardline anti-crime and drug war initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at minimum four personnel stand checking bags.

The national government has rejected allegations that it was a base for militant training for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of instability and marginalisation that has seen some Islamic independence movements establish links with overseas extremist organizations. But while IS-linked groups still exist, security officials say they are limited in size and diminished.

Authorities Trace Whereabouts

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

Law enforcement have said they are “taking seriously” the father and son's stay in the country as they piece together the movements of the pair during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Investigators say there are numerous establishments the two could have gone to or met contacts in the neighborhood. Scores of businesses sit between the their accommodation and a local Jollibee, where they were known to buy their meals.

Detectives are reviewing security camera video and tracing taxi trips to establish their whereabouts, and that all possibilities are being explored.

Concerns in the Region Over Bias

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with extremist groups in 2017, locals are concerned that new associations with terrorism could lead to increased security measures and worsen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a faculty member at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine investigative bodies must establish what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be thoroughly examined and the intel should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into blame against the region or its people,” Abdullah said.

Manlupig lauded civic actions in improving the security situation in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that terrorism simply disappeared”. He said the country must confront root causes and political factors that drive the impulses behind the unrest while “persist in promoting acceptance and avoid prejudice and division”.