NEWS




2September

Davao night market explosion kills 14, injures 60 

DAVAO CITY – A powerful explosion rocked the busy night market along Roxas avenue in this city last Friday night killing 14 people and injuring 60 others prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare the entire country under the State of Lawlessness.

Members of the Philippine National Police immediately responded and arrived in the blast site. Rescuers brought the victims to the nearest hospitals. 

Investigators are now probing to identify the kind of bomb that was used. 

Right after the incident, Davao City Vice-Mayor vice mayor Paolo Duterte asked the public to go home for their safety. 

President Rodrigo Duterte was attending an occasion at Panakan when the explosion took place. 

In an interview by Bombo Radyo, Secretary Martin Andanar clarified that the declaration of state of lawlessness effective on September 3 is not tantamount to Martial Law but this is to allow stronger coordination between the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines and to give them wider authority in providing safety measures like installing more checkpoints to secure the people and vital installations.

He explained that it is the job of the authority to protect the welfare of the people considering the culprits behind the bombing incident, whether they are terrorists or drug lords, are not visible.

Duterte said there will be military movements that will be implemented but it doesn’t mean there is martial law. He also clarified that the declaration has nothing to do with suspension of writ of habeas corpus. 

The bomb site was less than a hundred meters away from the premises of Ateneo de Davao University. The school announced suspension of its classes following the incident.