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2016 Davao City bombing

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Target
  
Civilians

Non-fatal injuries
  
70

Location
  
Davao, Philippines

Suspected perpetrators
  
Abu Sayyaf, Maute group

Attack type
  
Bombings

Start date
  
September 2, 2016

Total number of deaths
  
15

2016 Davao City bombing Is Philippines Davao City Bombing ISIS Islamic StateInspired Abu

Weapons
  
Improvised explosive device

A bombing at a night market occurred in Davao City, Southern Philippines, on 2 September 2016, causing at least 14 deaths and 70 injuries. On 13 September 2016, one of those injured, a pregnant woman, died, bringing the death toll up to 15.

Contents

2016 Davao City bombing Davao City Bombing Hits Roxas Night Market Photos of the Terrorist

Militant Islamic group Abu Sayyaf reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing but later denied responsibility, claiming that their allies, the Daulat Ul-Islamiya, were responsible for the incident as a show of sympathy to the group. Disgruntled vendors are also being considered as possible perpetrators.

2016 Davao City bombing Davao City Bombing Hits Roxas Night Market Photos of the Terrorist

On October 2, 2016, three of the ten suspects were arrested. The arrested are linked to the Maute Group which has ties with the Abu Sayyaf.

2016 Davao City bombing At least 12 dead dozens hurt in Davao City blast News GMA News

Background

2016 Davao City bombing Bombings in Davao City News GMA News Online

On 28 August 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to destroy Abu Sayyaf, after the bandit group beheaded an 18-year-old boy on 22 August 2016, when the victim's family failed to pay ransom.

Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte received a bomb threat two days before the incident stating that an attack will occur either in General Santos or Davao City. Duterte opted not to release the info to the public citing that the bomb threat also told him not to publicize the threat. Recently, he also announced an earlier bomb threat that was then yet to be verified and was criticized for it.

2016 Davao City bombing Davao City bomb suspects flown to Manila manhunt for bombers

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had previously ordered the popular night market to be closed due to "a number of violations and complaints". It however reopened on 13 August following meetings with the vendors and provided that all vendors follow stricter rules set by the city government.

Attacks

The bombing took place around 22:17 PST at a night market along Roxas Avenue in the city's central business district, some 100 meters from the main campus of the Ateneo de Davao University. Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte issued a statement shortly after the attacks to confirm the report on the number of casualties. He also said it was too early to tell who may be behind the explosion and assured the public that the authorities are on top of the incident.

At the Command Conference of the Police Region Office 11 in Davao the night following the incident, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa confirmed that the Davao blast was a terror attack and that an improvised explosive device was used.

Suspected perpetrators

The Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf, through its spokesman, reportedly claimed responsibility for the alleged bombing as it called on the mujahideen in the country to unite against the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The group later denied the reports by saying that it was their allies, the Daulat Ul-Islamiya responsible for the explosion saying that the Daulat's actions was to sympathize with the Abu Sayyaf. Its spokesman said that the attacks will not stop unless Duterte were to adopt the hadith as law of the country and he himself seek conversion to Islam.

Before the attack, the terrorist group reportedly vowed retaliation against the Philippine government for launching a major offensive against it recently in Sulu.

Southern Mindanao police director, Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan said that authorities are looking into the possibility that "disgruntled vendors" were responsible for the blast. Other groups were being investigated by authorities as possible perpetrators. Gaerlan noted that is possible that any group can claim responsibility for the explosion to boost their own popularity.

The City Government of Davao has offered 3 million pesos bounty for the eventual arrest of the perpetrators. Two million pesos will be given for those who can give information on the whereabouts of the bombing suspects, while another 1 million pesos will be given for those who can arrest and bring the suspects to the authorities.

Individuals

The Philippine National Police's investigation remarked the similarities of the IED used in the bombing to the one used by Abdul Manap Mentang at the 2005 Valentine's Day bombings which was also detonated at the night market. Like in the 2005 bombings, the 2016 bombings used an IED is a mortar shell and fitted with a remote detonator. This finding caused the police to suspect that Mentang, who was at large at the time of the explosion, may be directly involved in the 2016 bombings.

As of 5 September, the PNP had three "persons of interest" in connection with the bombings based from testimonies from witnesses. One of these three persons is a medium-built male in his 40s who was seen leaving a bag under a massage table. The two other persons of interest are female.

On October 4, 2016, three men who are linked to the Maute Group were arrested through the joint efforts of the police and armed forces and were presented to the media on October 7. The men were TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musali Mustapha. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the Maute Group has already established links with the Abu Sayaff and that there are "indications" that the group is aligning themselves with ISIS. There are seven other suspects which were yet to be arrested.

Domestic

Government

The Philippine National Police has placed all of its units nationwide under full alert following the attack while the Davao City Police Office has also set up a hotline specifically for use of the victims' relatives.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared a "state of emergency on account of lawless violence" in the Philippines as the whole city of Davao was placed on lockdown. Under the declaration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are given the authority to conduct law enforcement operations normally done by the Philippine National Police, but unlike martial law, the writ of habeas corpus is not suspended. While no nationwide curfew has been imposed, residents were advised to stay indoors as police and soldiers set up checkpoints and search vehicles and houses. Duterte also cancelled a scheduled state visit to Brunei that would have taken place from 4 to 5 September.

Non-state parties

On 4 September 2016, the Communist Party of the Philippines has accused the United States of instigating the bomb attack. In a statement, Siegfried Red of the CPP's Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee claimed Washington planned the bombing to derail the peace talks between communists and the Duterte administration. The communist group has accused the Central Intelligence Agency in particular with collaborating with critics of the peace talks, ultra-rightists groups linked to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and drug lords.

International

States

The United States through the US National Security Council expressed readiness to coordinate with local authorities regarding the investigation of the incident and offered condolences to the relatives of the victims of the blast. Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and Vietnam also expressed their condolences and condemning the attack. Similarly, Israel, through their embassy in the country expressed condolences to the victims and wishes speedy recovery to the injured.

The governments of Canada, China, Singapore, Taiwan, United Kingdom and United States issued travel warnings to its citizens, while Australia reiterates its travel warning in the area.

Others

Human rights group Amnesty International acknowledged the tragedy and extended its condolences to the victims.

Facebook activated its Safety Check feature hours after the bombing.

Other bombings

Two separate bomb attacks struck North Cotabato and South Cotabato provinces on Saturday.

References

2016 Davao City bombing Wikipedia