At least 14 killed as bomb rips through Davao market
At least 14 people died and 67 were wounded in an explosion in a popular night market in President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown of Davao City Friday evening.
Authorities believe the blast was the handiwork of Abu Sayyaf militants, prompting Duterte to declare a nationwide state of lawlessness Saturday morning to prevent possible attacks.
The explosion happened at 10:20 pm as people flock to the night market along Roxas Avenue in Barangay Santa Ana, according to initial police reports.
Ten people were killed on the spot while others were died in different hospitals. Among the fatalities included a 12-year-old boy and a policeman.
The city was also placed on a lockdown with police and military personnel on the streets.
"I have this duty to protect this country. So I am now declaring a state of lawlessness," said Duterte during an ambush interview with journalists at the scene of the explosion.
"These are extraordinary times. We are trying to cope with a crisis now. There seems to be an environment of lawlessness," he added.
“It’s not martial law but I am inviting now the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the military and the police to run the country in accordance with my specifications,” he added.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno said the Abu Sayyaf has claimed responsibility for the attack.
"We are still on high alert after ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) has claimed responsibility over the deadly blast in Davao City.We will continue to take orders from our commander-in-chief President Rodrigo Duterte," Sueno said in a statement.
The military went on red alert. In statement, military spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo said General Ricardo Visaya, chief of staff, directed all area commanders to coordinate with their counterparts in the police and the regional directors of the local government department.
Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa placed the entire 160,000 strong force on full alert.
Japan, the United States and Australia pledged support to the Philippine government in combating terrorism.
In a message to Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Japan Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said:“I am deeply shocked to learn that a bombing incident caused numerous casualties in Davao City. In this time of difficulties, Japan stands with the Philippines. Japan will continue to closely cooperate with the Philippines in tackling terrorism.”
Duterte went to the morgue and hospitals where he got updates on the status on the survivors.
A list at the Davao City government's Facebook page named some of the fatalities as Daniel Larida, Melanie Faith Larida, Jay Adremesin, Rogelio Cagantas, Mercy Basilisco, Cristelle Decolongon, Ruth Merisido, Reynaldo Salvador, Eufemia Biscocho, Christian Denver Reyes and Evelyn Sobrecary. There were no foreigners.
Duterte clarified the state of lawlessness is not similar to martial law and thus civil liberties are not supressed. “This is not martial law. This is not about the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus,” Duterte explained.
The declaration would give more power to the military and police to suppress violence of threat groups. These include more checkpoints and inspection of vehicles. He advised the public to be "liberal" and allow law enforcement authorities to inspect their vehicles.
“They can do what they really need to do until such time that I can say it is safe,” Duterte said.
The declaration also covers the government's war on illegal drugs and the spate of extrajudicial killings.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said a declaration of state of lawlessness is rooted in Article 7, Section 18 of the Constitution.
"Section 18. The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion," Abella said in a statement.
Duterte said similar explosions in Mindanao are always connected with the Abu Sayyaf or other groups in Central Mindanao.
"We are trying to link the pieces together and one of that is one of the theories that we are exploring," he said.
Duterte said they have leads on the persons responsible for the attack but declined to go into details because of an ongoing investigation. "We will treat this as a police matter about terrorism."
He refused to conclude the incident was brought by a failure of intelligence. "We were ready for this."
Sueno encouraged the public to be vigilant and stay away from crowded places temporarily.
De la Rosa directed police regional directors to “coordinate with all intelligence and friendly units in your areas and exercise extreme caution in conducting checkpoints.”
This includes Metro Manila where the public should expect more police presence at places of public convergence such as shopping malls, airports and churches as well as government installations and buildings.
"Our target hardening measures are already in place but still we can't say if our target hardening measures are flawless," Dela Rosa said in a news briefing in Camp Crame.
Based on initial reports, Dela Rosa said the improvised explosive device used was fashioned out of a mortar round. They also suspect the Abu Sayyaf as the group behind the terror attack in response to the current operations against the rebel group in Sulu.
"We have been bringing the war to them.. They probably did this to divert our attention to ease the tension in Sulu," he said. "Instead of proceeding with our efforts there, we will be put on the defensive in our cities."
Dela Rosa took exception to insinuations the government masterminded the explosion to eventually declare martial law, emphasizing Duterte would never do such act of violence in Davao where he was city mayor for many years.
"That is such a painful accusation. Our President loved our city of Davao very much. He can't do that. We already have enough heartaches already," Dela Rosa said, referring previous bombing incidents in Davao.
He also has a message to human rights advocates who might be concerned on Duterte's declaration of state of lawlessness.
"Instead of questioning, they should just help to ensure no bombs will explode in our country," said Dela Rosa. Emmanuel Tupas and Robina Asido
