Duterte commanded the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to undertake measures to suppress all forms of lawless violence in Mindanao and to prevent it from spreading across the Philippines.
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Early yesterday, the small but violent Abu Sayyaf group of militants linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack. “In other words, it is just a declaration of a state or condition of lawlessness, nothing more”, he explained.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte tends to a wounded victim of the Davao City bombing incident during his visit at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City. “It’s all about money for them”, the police chief said.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the basis of the proclamation was terrorism, citing the escape of prisoners, the beheadings of hostages and the Davao City night market blast on Friday that killed 14 people. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a “state of lawlessness” Saturday, which means troops will now be stationed in central areas to supplement police.
She also announced in her message that the City Government of Davao will assist the victims and their families in their needs for hospitalization, burial, funeral and day-to-day expenses.
The US offer to help in the blast probe came despite Mr. Duterte’s avowed dislike for US Ambassador to Manila Philip Goldberg.
Significantly, security forces in Davao had already been on high alert, not only because of the Abu Sayyaf warning, but because of the President’s presence over the weekend.
Mr Duterte has cancelled a working visit to Brunei set for yesterday till tomorrow, the first leg of his planned three-country swing through South-east Asia, his first foreign trip as President.
Duterte signed the one-page proclamation before boarding his plane to Laos on Monday afternoon in Davao City. “A week ago 15 soldiers were killed in Patikul and on September 2 the bombing took place in Davao”, were the reasons that prodded the President to issue the proclamation.
Duterte was to leave Monday afternoon for a summit of Asian leaders in Laos, where he is also expected to meet with President Barack Obama.
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