(Eagle News) — The Philippine National Police appealed to the public on Saturday (Sept. 3) to remain calm and vigilant after the deadly bombing of a night market in Davao City that killed at least 14 persons and injured more than 60 others.
PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said it was important for the public to remain calm and continue on with their normal lives as it was the aim of those behind the bombing incident to “sow terror.”
“We appeal to the public to remain calm, vigilant and alert in reporting to authorities any unusual movement of suspicious persons,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference around noon Saturday.
“We assure the public of the readiness of the PNP in addressing any threat of this nature and thwarting any attempt by threat groups,” he said.
Abu Sayyaf spokesperson Abu Rami had already claimed the Davao attack saying it served as a “call for unity to all mujahideen in the country.” He claimed this was in reaction to the all-out war of the military against the Abu Sayyaf.
The claim, however, was made more than seven hours after the fatal bombing.
PNP chief Director General Dela Rosa said this ASG claim would need to be further confirmed.
“We do not take that at face value. Kinuconfirm pa natin kung totoo yan,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference around noon Saturday.
Davao City mayor Sara Duterte, the president’s daughter, said that the Office of the President has already texted and confirmed that it was an Abu Sayyaf retaliation.
Before the ASG claim, the Department of National Defense pointed out that it was possible that the Abu Sayyaf Group was behind the deadly explosion that rocked Davao City.
“While nobody has come up to own the act we can only assume that this was perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayaff that has suffered heavy casualties in Jolo in the past weeks,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said.
“We have predicted this and has warned our troops accordingly but the enemy is also adept at using the democratic space granted by our constitution to move around freely and unimpeded to sow terror,” he added.
Lorenzana said that he has ordered all the commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to be on high alert “especially in urban centers for possible other terroristic act attempts by this group.”
PNP chief Dela Rosa said all PNP units nationwide are also on full alert.
He said the PNP is exercising “utmost prudence and due diligence” to thwart any other attempts to destabilize the country.
“We are appeal to the public to stay calm and be vigilant. Huwag matakot sa mga terorista dahil kapag natakot then they would have achieved their aim which is to sow terror,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference.
That is why he said that it was important for the public to resume their normal lives while remaining vigilant.
He asked that it was important for anyone who would notice any untoward activity to report this immediately to the police through its emergency hotlines.
Dela Rosa also expressed his condolences for the relatives of the bomb victims in Davao City.