Islamic militants blamed for deadly Philippine blast

Davao (Philippines), Sep 3 (AFP) Philippine authoritiestoday blamed a notorious group of Islamic militants for thebombing of a night market in President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown that killed at least 14 people. An improvised explosive device tore through the bustlingmarket in the heart of Davao city and close to one of its tophotels just before 11:00pm (local time) yesterday. Authorities said the Abu Sayyaf, a small band ofmilitants that has declared allegiance to the Islamic Stategroup, most likely carried out the attack in response to amilitary offensive launched against it last week. "The office of the president texted and confirmed thatwas an Abu Sayyaf retaliation. For the city government side,we are working on that it is an Abu Sayyaf retaliation," Davaomayor Sara Duterte, who is also the president’s daughter, toldCNN Philippines. National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the AbuSayyaf had struck back after suffering heavy casualties on itsstronghold of Jolo island about 900 kilometres from Davao. "We have predicted this and warned our troops accordinglybut the enemy is also adept at using the democratic spacegranted by our constitution to move around freely andunimpeded to sow terror," Lorenzana said in a statement. Duterte, who was in Davao at the time of the attack butnot near the market, told reporters before dawn today that itwas an act of terrorism, as he announced extra powers for themilitary. At least 14 people were killed and another 67 werewounded in the explosion, police said. Sixteen of the injuredwere in critical condition, a local hospital director toldreporters. "The force just hurled me. I practically flew in theair," Adrian Abilanosa told AFP shortly after the attack asbodies lay strewn amid broken plastic tables and chairs. Davao is the biggest city in the southern Philippines,with a population of about two million people. It is about1,500 kilometres from the capital of Manila. The city is part of the southern region of Mindanao,where Islamic militants have waged a decades-long separatistinsurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives. Duterte had bIslamic militants blamed for deadlyPhilippine blast Davao (Philippines), Sep 3 (AFP) Philippine authoritiestoday blamed a notorious group of Islamic militants for thebombing of a night market in President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown that killed at least 14 people. An improvised explosive device tore through the bustlingmarket in the heart of Davao city and close to one of its tophotels just before 11:00pm (local time) yesterday. Authorities said the Abu Sayyaf, a small band ofmilitants that has declared allegiance to the Islamic Stategroup, most likely carried out the attack in response to amilitary offensive launched against it last week. "The office of the president texted and confirmed thatwas an Abu Sayyaf retaliation. For the city government side,we are working on that it is an Abu Sayyaf retaliation," Davaomayor Sara Duterte, who is also the president’s daughter, toldCNN Philippines. National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the AbuSayyaf had struck back after suffering heavy casualties on itsstronghold of Jolo island about 900 kilometres from Davao. "We have predicted this and warned our troops accordinglybut the enemy is also adept at using the democratic spacegranted by our constitution to move around freely andunimpeded to sow terror," Lorenzana said in a statement. Duterte, who was in Davao at the time of the attack butnot near the market, told reporters before dawn today that itwas an act of terrorism, as he announced extra powers for themilitary. At least 14 people were killed and another 67 werewounded in the explosion, police said. Sixteen of the injuredwere in critical condition, a local hospital director toldreporters. "The force just hurled me. I practically flew in theair," Adrian Abilanosa told AFP shortly after the attack asbodies lay strewn amid broken plastic tables and chairs. Davao is the biggest city in the southern Philippines,with a population of about two million people. It is about1,500 kilometres from the capital of Manila. The city is part of the southern region of Mindanao,where Islamic militants have waged a decades-long separatistinsurgency that has claimed more than 120,000 lives. Duterte had been mayor of Davao for most of the past twodecades, before winning national elections in a landslide thisyear and being sworn in as president on June 30. Duterte became well known for bringing relative peace andorder to Davao with hardline security policies, while alsobrokering deals with local Muslim and communist rebels. Duterte has in recent weeks pursued peace talks with thetwo main Muslim rebel groups, which each has thousands ofarmed followers. Their leaders have said they want to broker alasting peace. However the Abu Sayyaf, a much smaller and hardline groupinfamous for kidnapping foreigners to extract ransoms, hasrejected Duterte’s peace overtures. (AFP)een mayor of Davaofor most of the past two decades, before winning nationalelections in a landslide this year and being sworn in aspresident on June 30. Duterte became well known for bringing relative peace andorder to Davao with hardline security policies, while alsobrokering deals with local Muslim and communist rebels. Duterte has in recent weeks pursued peace talks with thetwo main Muslim rebel groups, which each has thousands ofarmed followers. Their leaders have said they want to broker alasting peace. However the Abu Sayyaf, a much smaller and hardline groupinfamous for kidnapping foreigners to extract ransoms, hasrejected Duterte’s peace overtures. (AFP)AJR