🔗 Share this article

That was the most frightening moment of his existence. During 2016, Gerry Pendon was just five meters away from a blast at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The Islamic State assault killed 15, among them his wife's brother. A prolonged conflict between the military and the jihadist group in Marawi City came after.

“It won’t occur again in Davao,” Pendon asserts.

Nine years later, the threat of IS reappears over one of the country's major cities, amid international scrutiny over the 28-day stay in the city of the accused Bondi attackers, the Akrams, father and son.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, heard about the attack on the media, but similar to other locals interviewed, felt largely disconnected.

Even the 2016 blast is a bad memory he is attempting to put behind him. A memorial for the 2016 deaths sits in a corner of the night market, seeming mismatched amidst the joyful environment as crowds came there for food, massages and goods.

Current Investigations Amid Holiday Cheer

Investigations into the time in the Philippines of the duo comes as the predominantly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s city hall has been decorated with a towering Christmas tree, shopping centers are packed, and children knock on doors to sing carols.

“I was taken aback to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for travel, not violence,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. The government have stated the probe into their actions is continuing and the precise reason for their trip is remains unclear.

“It is simply a shame that legitimate grievances are co-opted by extremism. Sadly, the narrative of extreme conflict was unfairly glued to the region's character,” stated Karlos Manlupig, leader of peace-building NGO Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Security Record

Lorenzo is furthermore certain that no one could perpetrate another act of terror in the city long governed by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose legacy – both renowned and infamous – was established by heavily policing Davao through hardline law and order and anti-drug initiatives. At an entrance of the night market, at least four guards stand searching bags.

The national government has pushed back against suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the alleged Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of instability and disenfranchisement that has seen some local militant factions forge ties with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, authorities say they are small and degraded.

Authorities Reconstruct Activities

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

Investigators have said they are “treating with gravity” the duo's visit in the country as they piece together the activities of the suspects during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Investigators say there are numerous places the two could have gone to or had meetings in the vicinity. Many of outlets sit between the their accommodation and a close by restaurant, where they were understood to buy their food.

Detectives are analyzing CCTV footage and tracing taxi trips to reconstruct their itinerary, and that any potential lead are being explored.

Fears in Marawi Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of fierce battles with Islamic State affiliates in 2017, residents are worried that new accusations of extremism could lead to increased security measures and worsen bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must determine what took place.

“[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 praised civic actions in strengthening the safety conditions in Davao City but he said “this doesn’t mean that extremism was eradicated”. He said the country must confront economic and social issues and political factors that motivate the motivations behind the violence while “continue pushing for understanding and avoid bias and sectarianism”.