Troubling Recollections Return in Davao City as Authorities Trace Bondi Shooting Alleged Attackers' Activities

That was the scariest experience of his life. During September 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five metres away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas night market in Davao City. The Islamic State attack killed 15, among them his wife's brother. A lengthy siege between the military and the jihadist group in Marawi ensued.

Nearly a decade later, the specter of IS reappears over one of the Philippines’ largest cities, amidst global attention over the four-week stay in the city of the accused Bondi attackers, a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

Pendon, who works as a masseur at the night market, heard about the attack on the news, but similar to other citizens spoken to, felt largely detached.

The 2016 blast is a traumatic event he is attempting to put behind him. A remembrance marker for the 2016 fatalities sits in a corner of the night market, seeming incongruous against the festive environment as crowds flocked there for food, massages and goods.

Ongoing Inquiries Amid Holiday Celebrations

Investigations into the Philippines activities of the father and son comes as the mostly Catholic country is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been decorated with a tall Christmas tree, shopping centers are packed, and children knock on doors to perform Christmas songs.

“I was surprised 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. The government have stated the inquiry into their whereabouts is ongoing and the exact reason for their visit is as yet unknown.

Confidence in Safety Record

Lorenzo is also confident that no one could carry out another terror attack in the city for a long time administered by the clan of past leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose reputation – both notable and controversial – was forged through heavily policing Davao through tough anti-crime and anti-drug campaigns. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand checking bags.

The authorities has pushed back against allegations that it was a hub for extremists for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a extensive past of conflict and marginalisation that has seen some Islamic independence movements forge ties with global terrorist networks. But while IS-linked groups persist, authorities say they are limited in size and diminished.

Investigators Piece Together Whereabouts

What is clear, commented Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two did not leave the city nor received combat training in the country, as was initially suggested.

Police have said they are “not taking lightly” the father and son's presence in the country as they reconstruct the movements of the suspects during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Police say there are many locations the two could have frequented or connected with associates in the area. Dozens of outlets sit between the GV Hotel and a close by Jollibee, where they were understood to buy their food.

Officers are reviewing surveillance tapes and tracing transport records to piece together their whereabouts, and that all possibilities are being considered.

Fears in Marawi Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with IS-linked militants in 2017, locals are concerned that renewed terrorist labels could lead to increased security measures and deepen prejudice against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the institution in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must find out what transpired.

Manlupig praised community efforts in strengthening the security situation in Davao City but he said “it is not true that terrorism magically vanished”. He said the country must confront socioeconomic factors and political factors that drive the motivations behind the violence while “keep advocating for understanding and avoid discrimination and division”.