Kristian Ablan said the proclamation “technically took effect today and remains in force until lifted by the President”.
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President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has introduced a state of emergency in the country following the explosion in Davao city, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary for Policy and Legislative Affairs Christian Ablan confirmed Monday.
TIGHT SECURITY Security forces are scattered all over Davao City as the threat of another terrorist attack remains high following the September 2 blast that left 14 people dead.
“I don’t know when but for the moment, according to law experts, the President’s public declaration would suffice”, he said.
Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reports that Mayor of Davao city Sara Duterte told reporters that the suspect was in the night market along Roxas Avenue, and was later taken up for questioning.
The verbal declaration made by Duterte only hours after the blast in Davao City only said it would result in increased police and military visibility in public areas and more checkpoints.
“The Secretary-General stresses the need to ensure accountability and to bring to justice the perpetrators of these terrorist attacks”, his spokesman said in a statement. “We want to talk and ask about the other people involved, if they have other terrorism activities and the reason why they did it in Davao”, Ms. Duterte-Carpio said.
Although the blast was initially attributed to the Abu Sayyaf, the police chief has raised the possibility that drug lords may having paid the Daesh-linked group to carry out the attack, saying both groups are under pressure from the government’s war on terrorism and illegal drugs.
Earlier in the day, the plain-talking Duterte had told reporters he would swear at Obama if he tried to question him about extrajudicial killings, using a Filipino phrase for “son of a bitch” to describe the USA president.
He said the proclamation commands the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippines National Police (PNP) to undertake measures permitted by the constitution and laws. “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”.
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Expressions of solidarity with the Philippines have been conveyed by the global community, including the United Nations and Spain, whose embassy said in part, “The government hopes that the coward perpetrators of this crime be brought to justice as soon as possible and be held responsible for their actions”.
