🔗 Share this article

That was the most frightening experience of his life. Back in the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was only five meters away from a bomb explosion at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The IS assault left 15 dead, including his brother-in-law. A five-month battle between the armed forces and the jihadist group in the city of Marawi ensued.

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

Nine years later, the shadow of IS reappears over one of the country's major cities, amidst worldwide focus over the month-long stay in the city of the suspected Bondi beach shooters, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who makes a living as a masseur at the night market, learned of the Bondi incident on the media, but similar to other residents interviewed, felt largely detached.

Even the 2016 attack is a painful recollection he is attempting to put behind him. A memorial for the 2016 victims stands in a part of the night market, looking out of place against the joyful environment as crowds flocked there for food, massages and souvenirs.

Current Probes Amid Christmas Celebrations

Probes regarding the visit to the country of the pair coincides with the predominantly Catholic country is gearing up for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been adorned with a large Christmas tree, malls are busy, 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 tourism, not terrorism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, another a massage therapist at the market. Officials have made clear the probe into their actions is ongoing and the true reason for their stay is still uncertain.

“It is just regrettable that real concerns are exploited by extremism. Regrettably, the narrative of extreme conflict was wrongly attached to the region's character,” said Karlos Manlupig, head of non-governmental organization Balay Mindanao.

Confidence in Security History

Lorenzo is furthermore assured that nobody could perpetrate another terrorist strike in the city historically ruled by the political machine of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both renowned and controversial – was established by tightly securing Davao through strict law and order and anti-drug initiatives. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four guards stand searching bags.

The authorities has rejected claims that it was a base for militant training for the accused Bondi shooters. The country has a long history of instability and marginalization that has seen some Islamic independence movements establish links with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups persist, authorities say they are small and diminished.

Authorities Trace Whereabouts

What is certain, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ top security official, is the two never left the city nor obtained combat training in the country, as was earlier claimed.

Law enforcement have said they are “not taking lightly” the pair’s visit in the country as they reconstruct the activities of the father and son during their four-week stay in Davao City.

Police say there are numerous places the two could have visited or connected with associates in the neighborhood. Scores of businesses sit between the hotel where they stayed and a local restaurant, where they were understood to buy their food.

Police are reviewing CCTV footage and tracing transport records to piece together their movements, and that every scenario are being explored.

Fears in Marawi Over Labels

In Marawi, the site of intense fighting with extremist groups in 2017, locals are concerned that renewed terrorist labels could lead to increased security measures and worsen bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a professor at the university in Marawi City, said the Philippine security agencies must establish what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] stay should be carefully probed and the information should provide transparent and factual answers without transforming doubt into finger-pointing against the region or its people,” he said.

Manlupig lauded local initiatives in improving the security situation in Davao City but he said “it is not true that extremism simply disappeared”. He said the country must address socioeconomic factors and political factors that fuel the impulses behind the violence while “continue pushing for acceptance and steer clear of bias and sectarianism”.