Davao Night Market Blast Updates: President Rodrigo Duterte Issues 'State of Lawlessness', Abu Sayyaf Claims Responsibility for Bombing
President Duterte has launched an all out campaign on drugs, crime and against rebels
A huge blast rocked a night market in Davao City, a city located in the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines and the hometown of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Reports said that the president was in the city the night of the explosion.
The explosion instantly killed 14 people and injured 71 others as the market is a very popular area in the city. Among those who were killed instantly by the blast was a 12-year old child.
President Duterte issued a "state of lawlessness" which will impose checkpoints all over the country and enforce curfews. The newly-elected president has been active in the crackdown of drug syndicates around the country which has resulted to more than 2,000 drug-related deaths since July 1.
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Abu Sayyaf claims responsibility
After reports of the blast, spokesman for the Islamic State rebel group Abu Sayyaf Abu Rami said that their group claims responsibility for the bombing. However, the president was not convinced and said that they are also looking into other possible suspects such as groups that are targets of his all-out war against drugs.
Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana said that the bombing was in response to the government's intensified operations to fight the Abu Sayyaf. He also mentioned that the military were placed on high alert. Lorenzana claimed that they have predicted this to happen.
President Duterte also commanded the military last week to use their full force to stop the Abu Sayyaf after the rebel group rejected his call to stop their terror attacks. After his command, dozens of Abu Sayyaf members were reported killed by the military just last week.
Meanwhile, Martin Andanar, Presidential Communications secretary said that investigators found shrapnel which were from mortar-based bombs which was an indication that the attack was planned to produce numerous casualties.
No martial law
President Duterte's declaration of state of lawlessness is not martial law but he said that this will require coordinated work by the police and the military. The president also said that this was not the first time an act of terrorism happened in Davao. A similar incident happened in 2003 at the Davao airport resulting in the death of more than 20 people. Islamic extremists were blamed for the blast then.
First challenge for Duterte
The bombing is the first violent challenge for President Duterte's administration. He has vowed to eradicate crime and drugs in just six months of his term. Soon after he assumed office, he started peace talks with communist rebels who agreed to honor an indefinite ceasefire.
The President was far from the area where the blast occurred. Although President Duterte takes office in Manila, he spends his weekends in Davao, his hometown.
