Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte proclaimed on Monday a state of national emergency for the Philippines on account of lawless violence, a Malacanang presidential palace said in a statement.
Advertisement
“These are extraordinary times, and I’m authorized to allow the security forces of this country to do searches”, Duterte told reporters.
While many believe that Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf was behind the bombing, one of its spokesman said that it had been the work of one of its allies.
The region was under a heightened security alert because of a military offensive against Abu Sayyaf militants, officials said.
Davao Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio offered a total of PHP2-million reward for information leading to the capture of the culprits behind the deadly Friday night bombing in Davao which left 14 people dead and more than 60 injured.
But Duterte said investigators were looking at other possible suspects, such as drug syndicates.
Police have yet to disclose details of their initial investigation, but Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte – the president’s daughter – said in a television interview it was a bomb.
An Abu Sayyaf spokesman later claimed responsibility for the blast, confirming fears that the terrorist group would launch attacks on major urban centers to distract the government from its military offensive against it in Basilan and Sulu.
“We’re trying to cope with a crisis now”.
Duterte clarified that the “state of lawlessness” is not synonymous to martial law, adding it merely requires “well-coordinated efforts of the military and the police”.
Andanar said components of a suspected improved explosive device were found at the scene of the explosion, according to ABS-CBN. The state of alert is highest in the capital Manila, where authorities have already tightened security. He saw at least 10 people lying bloodied on the ground, mostly fellow masseurs and their customers.
“State of lawlessness merely calls out the military or the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to do law enforcement operations normally done only by the PNP (Philippine National Police)”.
Since his inauguration as president at the end of June, some 2,000 people have been killed in a nationwide crackdown on drug dealing. We know that but I said this is not a fascist state.
Advertisement
Duterte was reacting to a question that U.S. President Barack Obama might raise the issue of alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and related summits this week in Vientiane, Laos.
