(Eagle News)– An explosion rocked a Davao City night market on Friday night, leaving at least 13 dead and some 60 persons injured.
Ten were killed on site, while three persons reportedly died while being treated in a Davao City hospital.
In a statement, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said the injured are being treated in different hospitals and that the authorites are on top of this incident.
“Right now, we cannot yet give definite answer to questions as to who is behind this as we are also trying to determine what really exploded”, Duterte said.
“It’s a sad day for Davao and the Philippines”, Duterte added.
The explosion occurred close to one of Davao’s top hotels that is popular with tourists and business people, city spokeswoman Catherine Dela Rey said.
Local police said that they are now implementing a lockdown in the city. The same move was also implemented by the administration of Ateneo de Davao which is just across the street from the night market.
This deadly blast comes after the Philippine National Police revealed a thwarted plot to assassinate President Duterte, who is now in Davao, after attending an event at nearby Panabo City on Friday. President Duterte usually flies to his hometown every weekend.
Before this, the Philippine president also directed the military to crush the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group which is notorious for its kidnap for ransom activities. The Abu Sayyaf has also threatened to conduct retaliatory activities after the Philippine government directed intensified military operations against them particularly in the southern island province of Sulu. The Philippine military has deployed around 7,000 soldiers to fight the Abu Sayyaf.