Duterte got upset for the warnings he might get by a questioning by US President Barack Obama, because of the war crimes in the Philippines that in the last two months, might have left more than two thousand dead persons.
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According to the Philippine authorities the Islamic extremist militia Abu Sayyaf, active in the south of the country, is to blame for the attack although at first the suspects had focused on drug traffickers.
“We’re trying to cope with a crisis now”.
There’s no sign yet of “who is behind this”, the vice mayor said.
In this photo taken on August 30, 2016, shows Philippine soldiers taking their position as they serve as a blocking force, in the town of Paktikul, sulu province in southern island of Mindanao, as they carry out President Duterte’s orders to “destroy” the militants.
Communications secretary Martin Andanar said the bomb appeared to have been made from a mortar round and doctors reported numerous victims had shrapnel wounds. “For the city government side, we are working on that it is an Abu Sayyaf retaliation”, Davao mayor Sara Duterte, who is also the president’s daughter, told CNN Philippines. The military, however, says there has been no evidence of a direct collaboration and the militants’ action may have been aimed at bolstering their image after years of combat setbacks.
Despite the emergency, Mr Duterte said he would proceed with a trip to Brunei, Laos and Indonesia starting on Sunday.
The blast killed 14 people and wounded 67 others.
Duterte also slammed the USA for its human rights records in the past when it colonized the Philippines.
“There were so many people, because it was a night market and also because it’s a Friday”, Sialmo said, adding that “the rescuers had to use improvised bandages on the victims”. “I practically flew in the air”, Adrian Abilanosa, who said his cousin was among those killed, told AFP shortly after the attack as bodies lay strewn amid broken plastic tables and chairs.
Meanwhile the Police Regional Office chief P/Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan said that the Philippine National Police is carefully handling the situation.
Police said they could not yet determine if the latest blast was caused by a bomb and an investigation was now underway.
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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.
